How to maintain osteoarthritis?

Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
Updated on September 22, 2024
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Arthritis primarily requires avoiding cold exposure. For middle-aged and older individuals, it is advised to reduce or avoid mountain climbing and excessive weight-bearing activities, as well as excessive walking and running. These can exacerbate the symptoms and severity of osteoarthritis, and may even cause local pain and swelling in later stages, further aggravating osteoarthritis, leading to bone proliferation, worsening degeneration of bone joints, and even resulting in an inability to move around. Therefore, in addition to the precautions mentioned above, it is also recommended for the middle-aged and older population to appropriately supplement with bone peptides and some drugs that nourish joint cartilage annually, such as amino acids and glucosamine, all of which help in the maintenance and relief of osteoarthritis symptoms.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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Osteoarthritis is divided into several types.

Osteoarthritis can be divided into two major categories based on the presence of local or systemic causative factors: primary osteoarthritis and secondary osteoarthritis. Primary osteoarthritis is mainly associated with factors such as age, obesity, occupation, and overuse. Secondary osteoarthritis can be seen in the following diseases: First, it is mechanical or anatomical abnormalities, such as abnormal joint development, acute and chronic joint injuries, etc. Second, it is severe joint diseases, such as septic arthritis, tuberculous arthritis, etc. Third, it involves metabolic abnormalities, such as gouty arthritis. Fourth, it involves endocrine abnormalities, such as acromegaly, hyperparathyroidism, etc., all of which can trigger osteoarthritic changes to some extent.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a disease caused by degenerative changes in the joints. Symptoms primarily include swelling, pain, fluid accumulation, and restricted movement in the joint areas. In severe cases, it can even lead to joint deformity and dysfunction. Treatment for arthritis is mainly divided into non-surgical and surgical methods. Conservative treatment can be attempted first. Patients with arthritis should rest and avoid vigorous activities. Symptomatic treatment may include anti-inflammatory pain relievers, cartilage nutrition drugs, or intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid. Additionally, hot compress physiotherapy and other methods can be used to alleviate symptoms. When conservative treatment is ineffective, or if there is deformity and dysfunction of the limbs, joint replacement surgery may also be considered.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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Characteristics of osteoarthritis pain

The characteristics of pain in patients with osteoarthritis mainly manifest as pain occurring frequently in the morning, which lessens after activity. However, if the activity is excessive, the pain can worsen. Another symptom is joint stiffness, which often occurs when getting up in the morning or after the joint has been in a certain position for a long time during the day. The affected joint may show symptoms such as swelling, pain, and a feeling of friction during movement. In severe cases, patients may experience muscle atrophy and joint deformity. Patients with osteoarthritis should pay attention to rest and avoid vigorous activities. They should use anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, as well as drugs that nourish the cartilage, to improve symptoms. When conservative treatment is ineffective and joint deformity or functional impairment occurs, joint replacement surgery may also be considered as a treatment option.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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Osteoarthritis exercise time

We say that all exercise must have a limit, and it should be within the patient’s tolerance. Walking exercises for osteoarthritis are permissible, but we do not advocate excessive exercise. Instead, it is best to focus primarily on rest. We say that life depends on movement, but joints rely on stillness. What does this mean? We do not advocate excessive activity in the joints. What is considered excessive activity? For example, if an osteoarthritis patient finishes a day of walking exercise and feels no pain, swelling, or discomfort in the joints, then the degree and amount of exercise they undertook are acceptable. However, if the patient finishes exercising and experiences significant pain, swelling, or discomfort in the joints by the evening, this indicates that the exercise was too much, and it was not suitable for them. They must rest and avoid such intense activities, indicating that walking exercises are not suitable. Thus, whether walking exercises are appropriate for patients with arthritis needs a balanced view, especially for patients in the acute phase of osteoarthritis. The mindset of exercising through the pain, regardless of discomfort, is absolutely incorrect. During the acute phase of osteoarthritis, we recommend resting as much as possible. During the remission phase of osteoarthritis, whether and how much walking exercise one should engage in also needs to be determined based on the severity of the patient’s condition and their subjective feelings. It cannot be generalized.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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Is physiotherapy good for osteoarthritis?

The answer is affirmative. For osteoarthritis, especially that caused by chronic diseases, local physiotherapy helps promote the dissipation of inflammation, the reduction of joint effusion, and the improvement of local tissue inflammation. Moreover, for some patients with osteophyte formation, consistent daily physiotherapy also aids in improving local pain and swelling, joint effusion, and other symptoms. It helps in promoting regional recovery and alleviating the further aggravation of local effusion and swelling.