Posts Tagged ‘Arthritis’

Arthritis – Make some smart lifestyle choices to make a difference against it.

Arthritis is affecting our daily lives to a large extent. Scientists are discovering methods that can make a difference against arthritis by making some smart lifestyle choices. Something that really works are:

To alleviate pain, eat good diet
- Dietary changes are suspected to be the possible counters to arthritis.
- Fibre from foods protect your heart. It reduces inflammation and less swelling can definitely benefit the joints as well as heart. A good source of dietary fibre lowers the C-reactive protein. Low C-reactive protein have arthritis benefits.
- Healthy omega 3 fatty acids play a good role in reducing inflammation that is related to arthritis. Consume omega-3s in more proportion than omega-6 fatty acids that are found in vegetable oils like sesame, soy and corn.
- Intake of olive oil is better than any other oil as it is high in mono-unsaturated fatty acids and lower in omega-6s. One disadvantage is that one has to consume three and a half tablespoons of olive oil which contains 44 calories to get the anti-inflammatory benefit of a 200 mg ibuprofen pill.
- Advanced glycation end products(AGEs) such as high heat cooking contributes to arthritis. Cut down AGEs in diet by lowering the cooking temperatures.

Shed the pounds and be on a move
- It is scientifically proved that obesity increases the arthritis pain. To ease this pain, simply loose weight.
- Knee osteoarthritis which results in disability, knee replacement with sometimes poor outcomes increases the impact of arthritis.
- Obese people has a risk of around 60% – double the risk for those who are normal. Stay physically active, do regular exercise as it strengthens the muscles around the joints.
- Do some flexibility, strengthening and aerobic exercises to stay active and in shape.
- Less stress on your joints by doing exercises like swimming, yoga, cycling is better.
- Tai chi combines meditation with slow, gentle movements with deep breathing exercises relaxes the body and move vital energy throughout the body.

Supplements lose their shine
- It is still not clear whether the supplements glucosamine and chondroitin actually help arthritis sufferers.
- According to Peter Juni, MD of University of Bern pooled the results and found out that neither supplement nor a combination is associated wit an improvement in joint pain.
- trials by supplement makers showed some good benefits in pain relief.

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Strategies and Reasons to treat Extreme Strain on the Largest Joint i.e. Knee or Arthrosis…

Major percentage of skeletal pains occur in the knee, the largest joint. Women are affected more than men. Important cause is arthritis, an inflammatory joint disease that causes knee pain in every third person. Artificial knees are increasingly sued now-a-days. Since a large part of our weight is borne by the knee, its insides have a double or triple protection. Kneecaps, ligaments, tendons, muscles and cartilage enable us to walk upright.

- When cartilage dwindles: A person in their 50s, the cartilaginous tissue can no longer store much water. The lubricant loses its elasticity and cartilage coating on bone-ends become thinner, stiffer and less resilient. Tissue densification narrows the transit paths for the supply of nutrients an washing out of debris. The cartilage uses a suction and squeezing out process to sustain itself on the synovial fluid which irrigates the knee joint in the articular capsule. If the synovial tissue is inflamed, severe pain results. The knee becomes swollen and joint becomes stiff.

- The process by which arthrosis spreads is complex and involves interplay of mechanical and biochemical factors. Excess weight or heavy physical work are major causes of chronic overuse and early damage of joints. The degree of cartilage loss does not correlate with the severity of pain. Gap between the bones of knee joint is an important factor. Smaller is this gap, more serious is the problem. Doctors recommend an arthroscopy in addition to imaging procedures, for diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes. Sodium hyaluronate injections seem to reduce the pain but without addressing the real cause. Cortisone can be injected into knee joint into knee joint if pain is prolonged. However, frequent injections are not recommended.

- Acupuncture also provides some relief.
- Treatments involving leeches work better than any standard therapy.
- Experts recommend low risk activities such as yoga, Tai Chi, hiking, cycling and swimming.
- Weight reduction and cushioning shoe insoles can bring relief.

Osteoarthritis(OA): a de-generative joint disorder – Best way to deal with it is MOVE ON…

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disorder. It is a chronic disorder. There is no well established way to cure it. Rest makes arthritic joints feel better, but in the long run, exercise is better. Exercise, combined with a diet that is low in fats, rich in good carbohydrates, can help you to lose weight, to reduce stress on weight bearing joints and limit further injury.
- Walking is the best way to keep joints i.e. from the ankles to the shoulders from seizing up. The more you can walk, but do wear insoles or cushioned shoes to redistribute weight and reduce joint stress.
- Aerobic conditioning if it does not hurt too much is good. Any exercise that does not put pounding pressure on the joints can help build muscle and keep ligaments and tendons strong and flexible enough to give the joints the support that they need.
- Elliptical trainer and cycling are good exercise options.
- Recumbent bicycle and rowing machines takes the burden off such susceptible joints as knees and hips.
- Swimming and water workouts will help you move stiff joints without gravity’s weight bearing pressure.
- Stretching is necessary to move joints through complete range of motion.
- Yoga is a good thing to do.
- Resistance training keeps muscles strong, often taking the pressure off joints.

Few things that you can do to prevent osteoarthritis are:
- keep moving.
- get nutritious balanced meals.
- stay slim.
- build muscle.
- change positions while writing or doing hand work.
- recline in right direction.

If pain persists and it is interfering into daily life, do consult a reputed orthopedic surgeon an accordingly adopt one of the following:
- Arthroscopy: Dying cartilage can be cleared and rough joint connections can be smoothed out.
- Bone Fusion: Fusing ones together with pins or plates can eliminate the pain.
- Joint Replacement: Bones in the joint are damaged beyond repair, a substitute joint can be fashioned from metal alloys, high density plastics .
- Tissue repair or osteotomy: Failing joints can cause surrounding muscle, ligaments and tendons to reattach or repair them. This is done without cutting the muscle ensuring future recovery and less damage.
- Cartilage Cell Replacement: New cells are injected into the joint.