Osteoarthritis, also termed as the "Degenerative Arthritis" is caused by the break down of cartilage of the joints. Depending upon the severity it can be classified as severe osteoarthritis and mild one. 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.

Causes of Osteoarthritis
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.

One can be at a risk of getting Osteoarthritis due to the following reasons:


•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 due to job, sports
•Have a muscle weakness

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:


•Pain in the joint
•Tenderness, stiffness or swelling at times
•Loss of flexibility
•Grating sensation
•Hard lumps around the affected joint

Regular Care for Osteoarthritis
For mild osteoarthritis, taking rest, taking a 10 minutes 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.

Some tips to cope with osteoarthritis are such as; eating a healthy diet, use assistive devices, for instance a cane to avoid falls, maintain a good posture and choose proper footwear.

Preventative Measures for Osteoarthritis
No specific food has been implicated as the cause of arthritis. Food allergies may trigger arthritis symptoms in some people. Foods that trigger Osteoarthritis are tomato, potato, capsicums, dairy products, salt, sugar, red meat, food additives and preservatives. Vitamin C can worsen osteoarthritis. According to some research, Calcium and vitamin D are good for maintaining bone strength and Vitamin B3 can improve joint mobility and range of motion.