Osteoarthritis, also termed as the degenerative arthritis is caused by the break down of cartilage of the joints. Stiffness in a joint as one gets out of bed or after sitting for a long time, swelling or tenderness in one or more joints, a crunching feeling or the sound of bones rubbing against one another are the common symptom of osteoarthritis.

Although the common myth is that it is age that weakens the bones but researches have proved that even younger people too get osteoarthritis from joint injuries. It can occur in any joint but is more common in the hand, knee, hip and spine.

You are at the risk, if you are;

overweight

ageing

a woman

have a joint injury

joints are not properly formed

have other diseases that affect the bones and joints

have a genetic defect in the joint

put a lot of stress on your joints - job, sports

have a muscle weakness

Look out for these signs;

Pain in the joint

Tenderness, stiffness or swelling at times

Loss of flexibility

Grating sensation

Hard lumps around the affected joint

Depending upon the severity it can be classified as severe osteoarthritis and mild one. For mild osteoarthritis, taking rest, taking a 10 min break from work every hour, sticking to gentle exercises such as walking, controlling weight, using heat treatment with heating pad, water bottle or warm bath or applying ice packs to cool the joint somewhat helps. Warm water exercises or aqua exercises also aids in loosing up a stiff joint in case of a mild osteoarthritis. A physiotherapist too can help in performing proper exercises. Avoiding stressing the joints by overexertion is also important. Prescribed oral pain-killers or pain creams can also provide temporary relief.

Tips to cope with osteoarthritis;

Eat a healthy diet

Use assistive devices, for instance a cane to avoid falls

Maintain a good posture

Choose proper footwear

Osteoarthritis facts:

No specific food has been implicated as the cause of arthritis

Food allergy may trigger arthritis symptoms in some people

Tomato, potato, capsicums, dairy products, salt, sugar, red meat, food additives and preservatives - all are possible arthritis triggers

If you suspect a particular food triggers arthritis, removing the particular food from the diet can help

Vitamin C can worsen osteoarthritis, says research

Calcium and vitamin D are good for maintaining bone strength Vitamin B3 can improve joint mobility and range of motion

Selenium, an antioxidant can help relieve symptoms of arthritis by controlling levels of free radicals

Contributed by Dr. Parul , R. Sheth and Dr.C.J.Thakkar