Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis characterized by swelling,pain and stiffness of the affected joints that results from cartilage degeneration.Cartilage is a tissue present between the Articulating Surfaces of the Joint.As a result of cartilage degeneration, the articulating surfaces of the joint rub against each other and increased friction in the joint leads to pain,inflamation and stiffning. Most common joints affected are the weight bearing joints like hips and knees,however other joints like spine,elbows,etc may also be affected.In majority of the cases there is no known cause for osteoarthritis but its incidence and severity increases with the age but some cases of osteoarthritis may be due to previuos surgeries,trauma, sports injuries etc..Unlike other forms like SLE,rheumatoid arthritis etc. there is no systemic involvement in osteoarthritis ,ie other organs of the body are not involved.There is no cure for osteoarthritis as the degeneration process can't be halted and the aim of treatment is to relieve pain ,inflamation and stiffness of the joints.Before starting any treatment it is extremely important to confirm the diagnosis and diagnosis is established on the basis of clinical features,x-ray,arthoscopy and others however blood tests may be helpful to exclude other forms of arthritis.Treatment of osteoarthritis includes anit-inflamatory drugs,analgesics,topical pain relievers,invasive procedures,corticosteroids,braces,surgeries and others.Today we will discuss only natural,non-pharmacological and non-surgical ways to treat osteoarthritis.
WEIGHT REDUCTION :- Obesity or Excessive Body Weight is the second most common cause for osteoarthritis after ageing. Excessive body weight increases the pressure on weight bearing joints which results in increased friction in the joint ,thus aggravating the symptoms.Every person suffering from osteoarthritis should be encouraged to loose weight unless he or she has normal BMI. Even little reduction in body weight can bring dramatic improvement in the symptoms.Weight reduction can be achieved with both dieting and exercise.
EXERCISE :- Activities that aggravate the symptoms should be avoided. Exercise helps not only in burning extra fat but there are other benefits if done properly.Exercise strengthens the muscles around the joint ,improves blood ciculation and maintains the mobility of the joints.Exercise also stimulates the release of synovial fluid which cover the articulating surfaces of the joints and reduce friction .Regular exercise also stimulates the release of endorphins (natural pain relievers secreted in the body).Heavy weightlifting is not recommende because it may worsen the situation so activities like swimming and walking are quite helpful but should be performed at levels that do not cause pain.It is advised to take adequate rest after exercise in order to get maximum benefit out of it.
DIET :- Diet is very important to maintain normal body weight ,but the supply of essential nutrients should not be compromised.Diets containing omega 3 fatty acids(fish,fish oil) should be preferred because of their anti-inflamatory properties.There are some evidences that supplements containing glucosamine and chondrotin my prove beneficial due to their anti-inflamtory and regenerative properties.Ginger is also said to have good anti-inflamatory effect.
OTHERS:- Heating pads,warm bath and massaging over the affected joint may also help in relieving symptoms.
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WEIGHT REDUCTION :- Obesity or Excessive Body Weight is the second most common cause for osteoarthritis after ageing. Excessive body weight increases the pressure on weight bearing joints which results in increased friction in the joint ,thus aggravating the symptoms.Every person suffering from osteoarthritis should be encouraged to loose weight unless he or she has normal BMI. Even little reduction in body weight can bring dramatic improvement in the symptoms.Weight reduction can be achieved with both dieting and exercise.
EXERCISE :- Activities that aggravate the symptoms should be avoided. Exercise helps not only in burning extra fat but there are other benefits if done properly.Exercise strengthens the muscles around the joint ,improves blood ciculation and maintains the mobility of the joints.Exercise also stimulates the release of synovial fluid which cover the articulating surfaces of the joints and reduce friction .Regular exercise also stimulates the release of endorphins (natural pain relievers secreted in the body).Heavy weightlifting is not recommende because it may worsen the situation so activities like swimming and walking are quite helpful but should be performed at levels that do not cause pain.It is advised to take adequate rest after exercise in order to get maximum benefit out of it.
DIET :- Diet is very important to maintain normal body weight ,but the supply of essential nutrients should not be compromised.Diets containing omega 3 fatty acids(fish,fish oil) should be preferred because of their anti-inflamatory properties.There are some evidences that supplements containing glucosamine and chondrotin my prove beneficial due to their anti-inflamtory and regenerative properties.Ginger is also said to have good anti-inflamatory effect.
OTHERS:- Heating pads,warm bath and massaging over the affected joint may also help in relieving symptoms.
Other articles : How to treat GERD.
How to loose weight naturally.
Home remedies for constipation.
