Osteoarthritis affects around 18% of women and 10% of men over the age of 60. It is the most common joint disease worldwide. In the UK, according to the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), around 8.75 million people over the age of 45 have sought treatment for osteoarthritis.
The most common form of osteoarthritis affects the knee – with 18% of the UK population over the age of 45 seeking treatment. Osteoarthritis of the hip is the next most common (8% of people over 45 seek treatment), followed by osteoarthritis of the hand and wrist (6%).
What is osteoarthritis?
There are various different forms of arthritis but osteoarthritis is the most common. It is a degenerative condition linked to ageing. It occurs when cartilage that cushions and protects the ends of the bones starts to wear away. Normally, cartilage helps the bones to slide smoothly over each other but as it starts to deteriorate, the bones may rub together and bony spurs can develop.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis – which may be mild in the early stages and worsen in time – include: pain during or after movement; stiffness particularly when you wake up; loss of movement and flexibility in the affected joint; swelling; and popping, crackling or a grating sensation in the joint. It can occur in any joint but most often develops in the knees, hips, hands and spine.
Who is at risk and can it be prevented?
The risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age. According to NICE, a third of women and nearly a quarter of men aged from 45 to 64 seek treatment for osteoarthritis.
By the age of 75 years plus, this rises to a half of all people. Unfortunately, there is no cure for osteoarthritis once it begins. However there are things you can do to delay its onset and slow its progress once you have the condition so you can stay fit, healthy and active for as long as possible.
How can I slow the progress of osteoarthritis?
The Arthritis Foundation points out that osteoarthritis is not an inevitable part of ageing but the result of many different factors, some of which can be prevented or modified. To reduce the chances of developing osteoarthritis and to slow its development if you have it, here are some positive steps you can take:
Maintain a healthy body weight: This is one of the most helpful things you can do for weight-bearing joints like knees and hips because each extra pound of body weight adds four pounds of stress to your knees and increases the pressure on your hips by six times. Being under such strain speeds the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. In addition, fat tissue produces proteins called cytokines. These create inflammation throughout the body and alter the function of cartilage cells. By losing weight you can reduce both inflammation and joint stress.
Exercise: This can seem counterintuitive if you are suffering with the pain of osteoarthritis, however physical activity is one of the best ways to keep your joints healthy, flexible and lubricated, as well as strengthening the muscles that stabilise your hips and knees. It’s also good for your heart health and helps to strengthen your lungs. If you are experiencing pain from osteoarthritis, a low impact activity like swimming, walking or yoga is ideal.
Live healthily: Eating a healthy, balanced diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, getting enough sleep, drinking moderate amounts of alcohol and quitting smoking – these are all things you can do to improve the health of your joints, as well as your overall health and wellbeing. High blood sugar – which is linked to diabetes – speeds up the formation of molecules that cause the cartilage in your joints to stiffen and subsequently be more prone to damage. It can also trigger systemic inflammation which causes cartilage loss. So, taking steps to reduce your risk of developing diabetes may also protect against osteoarthritis.
How is osteoarthritis treated?
There are many different treatments to help you manage the symptoms of osteoarthritis and these will differ depending on how advanced the disease is.
In the early stages, you may be able to manage the pain and stiffness using painkillers, physiotherapy and exercise. As the condition develops, your doctor may recommend pain killing injections or stronger medication. Once osteoarthritis is severe, joint replacement surgery is likely to offer the best chance of relief. At Carrothers Orthopaedics we specialise in both surgical and non-surgical treatments for arthritis.
October 12 is World Arthritis Day. If you have arthritis and would like to discuss your treatment options or if you have symptoms that you’re concerned about, contact us to arrange an appointment.
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