Understanding Cartilage, Joints, and the Aging Process

As we age, cartilage may deteriorate; leading to conditions like osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. OA is also commonly referred to as degenerative joint disease. It is one of the leading causes of disability in adults, but with right treatment and personalized guidance its symptoms can be managed effectively. Read on to know more.

The structure of joints

Cartilage cushions the ends of your bones and allows them to move smoothly and easily against each other. The joints are surrounded by a membrane called the synovium that produces a thick fluid that helps keep your cartilage healthy.

As wear and tear of the cartilage occurs, your synovium can become inflamed and thickened. This may lead to inflammation and cause extra fluid to build up within your joints, resulting in swelling.

The joints most commonly affected by OA are your knees, hips, hands, feet, and spine.

As cartilage further deteriorates, the underlying bones may not have enough cushioning from your cartilage. This results your bone surfaces to come in direct contact with each other and once this happens, there’s usually pain and inflammation that occurs in your joints and surrounding tissues. As your bones continue to grind and rub against one another, they begin to grow osteophytes or bone spurs.

The Natural Process of Aging

The risk of experiencing mild pain or soreness while exercising, climbing stairs or walking, increases as you grow older and your body doesn’t recover as quickly as it did before.

One of the most prevalent symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis is stiffness, which is caused by ageing-induced natural deterioration of cartilage and is commonly experienced after lying or sitting down for a long duration. Ageing also reduces muscle tone and bone strength which further makes physically demanding tasks more difficult and taxing on your body.

Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis

Apart from increasing age, other factors that increase a person’s chances of developing the condition include:

• Being over-weight may put additional stress on your joints, bones, and cartilages.

• Individuals with a family history of OA are at an increased risk for developing OA.

• Most types of arthritis are more common in women as compared to men.

• Certain jobs such as construction, farming, cleaning, or working in retail can increase the risk of developing OA.

Treatment

Osteoarthritis doesn’t have a cure. Instead, the goal of treatment is to manage and alleviate pain, and reduce any contributing factors that may worsen OA symptoms.

Treatment for OA is often tailored to a person’s lifestyle and the triggers that cause pain and soreness. A range of treatment options are available. These include:

• Medication

The doctor may prescribe medicines to help reduce the pain. This includes NSAIDs and acetaminophen.

• Injection

Steroid injections can help reduce pain in affected joints. However, they shouldn’t be used repetitively because they can cause additional joint damage over time.

• Surgery (Osteotomy)

This treatment option is typically reserved for people who have severe and debilitating OA. An osteotomy is an operation that realigns a bone by cutting and then repositioning it.

At-home Remedies for Osteoarthritis

Simple lifestyle adjustments can make things easier on your bones and joints along with managing pain.

This includes:

• Cold or Heat therapy

Warm compressions or applying cold packs to joints when they’re sore or painful can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

• Exercise

Low-impact exercises and activities can help strengthen bones and muscles. You can consider activities like tennis, baseball, yoga, golf, cycling, etc.

• Weight loss

Studies show that weight loss can help reduce OA symptoms by minimizing stress on hips and knees.

• Rest

Adequate rest can help your body recover more efficiently. It can reduce swelling issues and offer pain relief.

• Assistive devices

Using assistive devices can help unload and provide support to arthritic joints. This includes using braces, splints, and canes.