Is soaking feet good for osteoarthritis?

Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Osteoarthritis can benefit from soaking the feet in warm water, slightly hotter if possible, as the feet have numerous nerves. This can promote blood circulation and facilitate metabolism, such as the elimination of bodily waste, which is beneficial, especially for middle-aged and elderly people, in preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Osteoarthritis depends on the location and is a chronic joint disease. Its primary pathological change is the degenerative alteration of the joint cartilage. Typically, this condition affects middle-aged and older individuals, more so women than men. Early changes include the deterioration of the joint cartilage, leading to the exposure of the subchondral bone, which can then cause periostitis, changes in the joint capsule, and surrounding muscles. Usually, it presents as rest pain, which may decrease with light activity. Treatment often involves nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate for lubrication and joint protection. In severe cases, joint replacement, such as knee replacement, may be necessary. Thus, soaking the feet can be beneficial for those with osteoarthritis.

Other Voices

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
1min 38sec home-news-image

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 Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 35sec home-news-image

Is osteoarthritis easy to treat?

Osteoarthritis is a difficult-to-treat disease because currently, there is no complete cure for joint disorders in medicine. Therefore, the treatment principles are early diagnosis, early treatment, and early rehabilitation. Mainly, methods are used to delay the progression of the disease, maximally preserve joint function, and enable patients to live normal lives. The first approach is non-pharmacological treatment, which is the foundation for drug therapy and surgical treatment, primarily involving physical therapy methods such as heat therapy, hydrotherapy, traction, microwave therapy, acupuncture, and massage to alleviate joint pain and swelling during acute flare-ups. The second approach is pharmacological treatment, mainly including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and traditional Chinese medicine. The third approach involves considering surgical treatment if conservative treatments prove ineffective. Surgical treatments can involve procedures such as joint debridement to remove inflamed, loose cartilage and bone tissues, and smoothing rough joint surfaces. If these methods are still ineffective, the last treatment option may be needed for severe cases, which is artificial joint replacement. Thus, the treatment of osteoarthritis is a stepwise approach. However, regardless of the treatment method used, there is currently no cure, making osteoarthritis a challenging disease to treat.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a disease caused by degenerative changes in the joints, with symptoms primarily manifesting as swelling, pain, fluid accumulation, and limited mobility in the joints. Severe cases may even lead to joint deformities and movement disorders. In terms of treatment for arthritis, it can be divided into non-surgical and surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatment involves rest and avoiding strenuous activities to prevent further joint damage. It may also include the use of anti-inflammatory painkillers, chondroprotective drugs, or intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate to relieve symptoms. Additionally, treatments such as hot compresses and physical therapy can be used. When conservative treatment is ineffective or accompanied by limb deformities and movement disorders, joint replacement surgery may also be an option.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
1min 23sec home-news-image

Differences between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly people, primarily due to long-term joint wear, leading to degeneration of the cartilage in the joints, causing symptoms of pain, swelling, and discomfort in movement. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis often begins in younger individuals and is linked to genetics and viral infections, primarily being an autoimmune disease. It is characterized by positive rheumatoid factor, including elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Additionally, the treatment methods for these two diseases are different. Osteoarthritis can mainly be managed with massage therapy, injections of sodium hyaluronate, and oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, might require the use of immunosuppressants, steroids, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain. Importantly, rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects the small joints of the fingers, whereas osteoarthritis most frequently affects larger joints, such as the knee, highlighting the fundamental differences between the two conditions. (Note: The answers provided are for reference only. Medications should be taken under the guidance of a professional physician, and self-medication should be avoided.)

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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Osteoarthritis characteristic symptoms

Osteoarthritis is a disease caused by degenerative changes in the joints. Symptoms mainly include swelling, pain, effusion, and limited mobility in the joints. In severe cases, it can even lead to joint deformities and impair joint mobility. Treatment for arthritis can be divided into non-surgical and surgical methods. The choice of treatment should be based on a comprehensive consideration of symptoms, the extent of the condition's progression, and imaging studies. Initially, conservative treatment methods can be employed. Patients with arthritis should rest and avoid vigorous activities. Anti-inflammatory pain relievers, cartilage nutrition drugs, and heat therapy can be used to alleviate symptoms. If conservative treatments are ineffective and there are deformities and mobility issues, joint replacement surgery may also be considered.