How to prevent arthritis: causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention. The causes of arthritis: why the disease occurs, how to avoid the appearance How to prevent arthritis of the joints

Fifty percent of people will sooner or later face arthritis in one form or another. You can significantly reduce your health risks by paying attention to these recommendations shared by rheumatologists and other doctors.

Maintain Healthy Digestion

If you have normal gut flora, you may be able to reduce pain and inflammation from arthritis. Healthy bacteria must be varied so that the intestinal lining is not damaged. Damage from food, toxins, stress, and medication can lead to inflammation throughout the body, especially in the joints. To prevent this, take care of your intestinal microflora.

Do strength exercises

It may seem counterintuitive: How can lifting weights relieve joint pain? Wouldn't that create additional stress? However, muscle mass is the key to preventing osteoarthritis and relieving pain. By strengthening the muscles around the joints, you relieve stress and improve their condition. Try to workout several times a week to improve your fitness.

Eat an anti-inflammatory diet

Inflammation in the joints and in the body generally is a painful symptom of arthritis. You can reduce inflammation through diet, avoiding antibiotics and consuming large amounts of fermented foods like sauerkraut or yogurt. They perfectly stabilize digestion. Try to eat as little processed sugar as possible and focus on healthy fats like nuts, seeds, avocados, and oily fish. They promote health and help you lose weight.

Do yoga

Maintaining strength and flexibility in the body is important to prevent osteoarthritis associated with joint wear and tear. Exercises like yoga, Pilates, or martial arts strengthen the muscles around your joints and help you move with maximum amplitude. Try to make time for this kind of physical activity periodically to protect your health.

Keep track of your weight

One of the most important ways to control osteoarthritis is to maintain a healthy body weight. Osteoarthritis develops due to stress on the bones, so everything should be done to prevent mechanical damage. Being overweight puts additional stress on bones and joints, so losing weight can be the first step to getting better.

Avoid alcohol and tobacco

There are over one hundred types of arthritis and joint diseases. Some risk factors, such as gender or genetic predisposition, cannot be ruled out, but some can still be reduced. For example, quitting smoking can help reduce your risk of rheumatoid arthritis, and stopping alcohol can help prevent gout.

Try tai chi

Gentle stretches like tai chi can help keep your joints and ligaments healthy. Be sure to try to stretch your arms when you move. The arms are the third most common site for arthritis symptoms, and stretching can help you prevent the problem.

Treat injuries as soon as possible

The most important advice for preventing arthritis is to carefully monitor your body and treat injuries as soon as you get them. Permanent injuries can lead to arthritis, for example, ballerinas have ankle problems and powerlifters suffer from back pain. To prevent damage to ligaments and bones, seek early treatment, get physical therapy, exercise moderately, and lose weight if any.

5 / 5 ( 1 voice)

Alas, there is no guaranteed way to prevent arthritis. However, prevention of arthritis is possible by reducing the risk of arthritis and delaying the potential onset of arthritis in certain types of arthritis. It is recommended that wearers of healthy joints do their best to maintain their mobility and functionality, and to prevent the disability and pain caused by arthritis.

There are also states associated with it. All of them are combined with various risk factors, individual manifestations, dynamics and other circumstances.

There are risk factors that cannot be controlled. This means they cannot be corrected. Being a woman or having a family history of arthritis (genetic profile) are examples of two factors that increase the likelihood (but not predetermination) of developing certain types of arthritis.

Conversely, a number of risk factors are considered modifiable. These include behaviors and circumstances that can be changed to reduce risk, delay or prevent arthritis altogether. Here are just some of the types of arthritis and associated modifiable risk factors:

  • Osteoarthritis - Maintain a Healthy Weight
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis - Don't smoke
  • Gout - Eat a diet low in sugar, alcohol, and purines

In some cases, preventing an incident trigger can significantly reduce the risk of arthritis. Adequate equipment, adequate training, and safe standards of athletic play can prevent ACL rupture. This injury can lead to osteoarthritis in a few years or even decades.

Until scientists have fully understood the causes and mechanisms of these disorders, full prevention of diseases seems impossible. However, there is a reasonable hope that some or even all types of arthritis and related problems may someday be preventable. Breakthroughs in these areas can happen faster than it seems. Please note that many types of arthritis are thought to be the result of a combination of a genetic predisposition and a trigger such as a virus or toxin. Identifying a specific trigger for a particular type of arthritis may be the key to preventing it, even when there is a genetic risk.

As the pace of research accelerates with the support of the Arthritis Foundation Science Program, the search for new prevention methods (as well as treatments) may soon become a reality.

There are over a hundred forms of arthritis, and the symptoms of this disease can be excruciating. However, there are things you can do to protect your joints and prevent discomfort.

Disease data

Arthritis is an extremely common problem faced by millions of people. It should be understood that this is not one disease, but a combination of about a hundred symptoms that affect the joints, causing pain, stiffness and swelling. Carpal tunnel syndrome, gout, fibromyalgia, lupus and osteoarthritis are among the possible diagnoses. It is not always possible to prevent the disease, however, there are tips that you can consider to reduce the risk and severity of symptoms.

Control your weight

The simple advice is the most effective at the same time: try to eat right and maintain a normal level of activity to keep your weight healthy. Obesity puts extra stress on the joints of the hips and knees. Studies have shown that being overweight increases the likelihood of osteoarthritis of the knees up to five times when compared to people with a healthy weight.

Drink green tea

It is warm and soothing, and is extremely beneficial for joints. Studies looking at foods that reduce inflammation and improve arthritis symptoms have shown that green tea is high in beneficial antioxidants. It helps preserve bones and ligaments in arthritis.

Use baking soda

It turns out that baking soda can be extremely beneficial. Recent studies have shown that drinking baking soda water daily can help reduce inflammation in the body. The authors of the study found that this mixture boosts the work of immune cells, which is why they fight inflammation rather than exacerbate it. This is noticeable in the internal organs and the composition of the blood, scientists say. However, further research is required.

Take a stretching break

Repetitive movements like typing on a keyboard can exacerbate arthritis symptoms. You need to take a stretching break. Try to do different exercises that will help reduce stress in your body and improve your productivity.

Go for a short run

It's not uncommon for runners to try to convince runners that this sport is bad for their joints, but research suggests otherwise. Scientists have found that running reduces the risk of osteoarthritis and the need for hip replacement.

Maintain an optimistic approach

Maintaining an optimistic outlook on life can seriously help control arthritis symptoms. Research shows that maintaining a positive outlook on life significantly reduces chronic pain.

Eat more fish

Studies have shown that patients with arthritis who eat fish twice a week are less likely to experience pain and discomfort than those who eat fish less than once a month. The fact is that fish is rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Take the stairs

If you have joint pain, it may instinctively seem like it’s better to use the lift. However, it is keeping you active that will keep you comfortable.

Plan your workouts

It is important to move daily and plan your workouts carefully. People with arthritis who exercise regularly experience less discomfort.

Eat a variety of foods

It doesn't matter if you suffer from arthritis or not, you should eat an anti-inflammatory diet. Sugar and processed foods exacerbate inflammation, while fruits, vegetables, and lean meats reduce the risk of arthritis and promote health.

Get enough sleep

Try to sleep on a specific schedule. Getting enough sleep will help reduce discomfort.

Quit smoking

There are a number of reasons why you should give up cigarettes. Among them is the fact that smoking increases the risk of arthritis by 26%.

Ankle arthrosis treatment

Having stumbled, a person often experiences a sharp pain syndrome in the ankle. This is because the human ankle joint, which connects the shin to the foot, is not designed for rotations and lateral bends, and perhaps you already need treatment for ankle arthrosis.

  • Recognizing the disease
  • Treatment of the disease
  • ethnoscience
  • Physiotherapy or gymnastics for arthrosis of the ankle

Frequent, at first glance, accidental sprains and twisting of the foot can be a sign of a common disease called arthrosis of the ankle joint. It indicates that the muscles that are supposed to stabilize the joint during leg support have become weak or blood circulation in the joint is impaired. Ankle arthrosis is completely cured with early detection and a properly selected treatment method.

Recognizing the disease

Impassive statistics claim that out of a hundred people, six are susceptible to arthrosis of the ankle joint. This is 2 percent of the population under forty and 80 percent of older people.

Ankle arthrosis is accompanied by destruction and thinning of muscle tissue, as well as deformation and changes in the structure of the heads of bones. Detection of the disease at an early stage makes it more effective in the treatment of ankle arthrosis.

Symptoms of the disease can be as follows:

  • frequent painful sensations in the legs in the ankle area;
  • pain in the ankle when moving after rest;
  • crunching sound in the joints of the legs;
  • pain when the legs are loaded;
  • rapid fatigue of the legs;
  • frequent dislocations, twisting of the joint, sprains.

If you find these symptoms, you must consult a doctor so as not to complicate the treatment of the disease.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of ankle arthrosis begins with an accurate diagnosis. Usually, the doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis either by examining the patient or using an X-ray.

Depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor determines the tactics of treatment.

Ankle arthrosis is of three degrees:

  • arthrosis of the 1st degree - metabolism is disturbed;
  • arthrosis of the 2nd degree of the ankle joint - associated with mechanical injuries;
  • arthrosis of the 3rd degree - changes occur in the human joint.

How is ankle arthrosis treated? Treatment even before going to the doctor begins with reducing the load on the joint and avoiding hypothermia and overload. The attending physician attributes complex treatment to patients: physiotherapy, balneotherapy, the use of painkillers, as well as drugs that can improve blood circulation.

Ankle treatment can be carried out both on an outpatient basis and in a hospital with the appointment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The overweight of the patient can complicate the treatment, so it is important to eat right not only during treatment, but also to prevent the disease.

ethnoscience

Treatment of arthrosis of the ankle joint with folk remedies can help to avoid various complications.

Treatment with a magnet: with a magnet 2-3 times a day, make circular movements clockwise in the area of \u200b\u200bthe affected joint. The procedure takes 15 minutes.

Treatment with a mummy: ointment - 0.5 g. Mix the mummy with rose oil and rub gently into the ankle area.

For internal use - dilute 0.2 g in 50 ml of boiling water. mummy and take twice a day one hour before meals.

Potato treatment: to relieve pain, rub the potatoes on a fine grater and apply it to the joint for 20 minutes.

Treatment with medicinal comfrey ointment: mix a glass of comfrey leaves with a glass of vegetable oil and boil for half an hour over low heat. Then we filter, add a solution of vitamin E and half a glass of beeswax. Let the mixture cool and apply for half an hour on the ankle twice a day.

Eggshell Treatment: Eggshell is an additional source of calcium for the human body. It is ground into powder and added to food.

Treatment with products containing collagen: Collagen helps to synthesize cartilage cells (chondrocytes). Collagen-rich foods: seaweed, white cabbage, jellied meat, tomatoes, parsley, salmon.

Treatment with products containing silicon: silicon promotes better absorption of calcium. Silicon-rich foods: cauliflower, currant berries, turnips, radishes, olives, yarrow.

Physiotherapy or gymnastics for arthrosis of the ankle

Gymnastics with arthrosis of the ankle joint is carried out, as a rule, only after the symptoms of the disease (inflammation, pain) are absent or minimal. The set of exercises must be agreed with the attending physician or exercise therapy instructor.

Any exercises of therapeutic gymnastics for arthrosis of the ankle should exert stress on the ligaments and muscles in the joint, while not overloading the joints themselves.

The passage of a course of therapeutic gymnastics does not require the patient to invest money, drugs or expensive equipment, but the patient needs to stock up on willpower and patience in order to complete the course of treatment.

Early detection and the correct choice of a set of methods contribute to the successful treatment of arthrosis of the ankle joint.

Knee arthrosis: symptoms, treatment, photo

Every person who is young and full of energy can hardly expect that in old age he will be disturbed by a bouquet of diseases and lameness. Many people imagine themselves as a youthful pensioner with a pleasant smile, who enjoys travel and rejoices in health.

  • Knee arthrosis: photo, causes
    • Symptoms of the first degree of arthrosis of the knee joint
    • How does the 2nd degree of the disease manifest itself?
    • The third degree of arthrosis of the knee joint
  • Tactics for the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint
  • Traditional medicine and gonarthrosis
  • How to prevent the development of gonarthrosis - prevention
  • Conclusion

However, diseases overtake a person at the very moment when he does not expect this. Joint diseases can be especially troublesome. It is very difficult to recognize the onset of their development, since they proceed imperceptibly, deforming the joints. And one day the day comes when you are in such intense pain that it does not allow you to move normally.

Of the joint diseases known today, the most common is arthrosis of the knee joint. Statistics show that this disease is found in every 5 inhabitants of the planet over the age of 40. It is especially unpleasant that women have this disease more often than men.

What troubles can arthrosis of the knee joint cause and what needs to be done in order not to face this disease?

Knee arthrosis: photo, causes

Before proceeding to consider the reasons that can provoke the disease, you should find out what is arthrosis of the knee joint. This disease means changes in the articular cartilage that are degenerative-dystrophic in nature. Experts distinguish two types of arthrosis of the knee joint: primary and secondary, when it develops against the background of other diseases.

In most cases, arthrosis of the knee joint is provoked by the following conditions:

How does arthrosis of the knee joint develop?

In this disease, it is customary to distinguish the first, second and third degrees. Moreover, each has its own distinctive features.

Symptoms of the first degree of arthrosis of the knee joint

At the initial stage, a person complains of pain that he experiences while walking up stairs. Unpleasant sensations arise in the area of \u200b\u200bthe knee joint, because of which it becomes difficult for him to descend the stairs. In all other situations, nothing bothers him, so until the next time, the joints do not cause any inconvenience to him. Because of this, many people do not have a strong desire to deal with the treatment of their joints, believing that if their acquaintances have passed everything, then they will be all the same.

Since pain is rare at this stage, patients are in no hurry to go to the doctor, and this increases the likelihood of the transition of the disease to a second, more serious degree.

How does the 2nd degree of the disease manifest itself?

At this stage of development, stiffness in movement is added to severe pain. The patient begins to be bothered by unpleasant sensations, both during exercise and in a calm state. He can no longer freely bend and unbend the knee, any movement made by the joint leads to an unpleasant crunch.

Certain changes can be seen after visual examination: there is swelling of the joint, slight deformation. The overwhelming majority of patients in the clinic are people who have grade 2 gonarthrosis. Having brought themselves to a state where they are increasingly beginning to be bothered by excruciating pains, as well as stiffness in movements, they decide to seek help from a doctor.

The third degree of arthrosis of the knee joint

During this stage, the patient complains of constant severe pain in the joint and a complete loss of mobility. X-rays show the presence of dystrophic changes in cartilage tissue, a clear deformation of the joint. In this condition, the disease progresses to deforming arthrosis.

The disease is most inconvenient at night, when the arthrosis becomes even more intense. If a person is diagnosed with grade 3 arthrosis, then he needs a cane for normal movement.

Tactics for the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint

It will take a lot of time to return a person to the previous way of life, and the patient will have to be patient. To successfully cure the disease, you must adhere to the following principles:

  • Systematic;
  • A complex approach.

For therapy measures to be effective, they must be carried out under the guidance of a doctor. Most patients are unaware of which drugs and how exactly should be used for treatment. In some cases, it is allowed to supplement medical recommendations with folk methods, but in this case, it is necessary to obtain approval from a specialist.

The first measure, which begins the treatment of gonarthrosis, is the transfer of the patient to a sparing regimen. It involves giving up physical activity and long walking. Certain changes must be made with nutrition: the use of salt, sweet and fatty should be minimized. It is recommended to replace harmful foods with fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins.

In order to improve the patient's condition, the doctor may prescribe the administration of analgesic and antispasmodic drugs:

  • Ketorol;
  • Midocalma;
  • Nimesulide.
  • Diclofenac;
  • L-lysinoiscinate;
  • Indomethacin;
  • Piroxicam, etc.

But these drugs can be taken for a short time, because they have many side effects. For this reason, it is advisable to replace them with prolonged-release tablets or preparations in the form of injections and injections. Using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it is possible to improve the patient's condition, but it will not be possible to completely remove the cause of the disease. Chondroprotectors are called upon to solve this problem.

The most popular chondroprotectors are:

  • Chondrosamine;
  • Arcoxia;
  • Alflutop;
  • Teraflex;
  • Structum.

The effect of using these drugs is provided by the ability to restore the normal synthesis of synovial fluid and damaged cartilage tissue. These drugs show quick results if they are used to treat grade 1 and 2 gonarthrosis.

When using chondroprotectors in the treatment of stage 3 of the disease, most often no positive changes are observed.

Healing ointments, gels, creams. Used to treat affected joints in the form of rubbing and compresses. Today pharmacies offer a wide variety of drugs in this category. But you need to choose them carefully, focusing on the recommendations of the attending physician.

In case of intensification of symptoms, it is necessary to completely abandon stress, as well as massage and physiotherapy. It is not possible to carry them out in conditions where severe pain causes even more discomfort in contact with the joint. After the disappearance of unpleasant symptoms, they return to taking medications, adding massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy methods.

The following procedures are quite effective in the treatment of gonarthrosis:

  • Laser;
  • Electrophoresis;
  • Magnetotherapy;
  • Ozokerite.

Traditional medicine and gonarthrosis

Traditional medicine can also help in the treatment of this disease, which has accumulated many recipes for all the time to remove the symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint.

  • lingonberries;
  • cranberries;
  • thyme;
  • corn stigmas;
  • golden mustache.

They can be used as drinks or compresses. There are recipes based on rubbing alcohol tinctures:

  • bitter pepper tincture;
  • fly agaric tincture;
  • tincture of woodlice.

Traditional methods of treatment based on compresses with medical bile, apple cider vinegar, and cabbage and honey compresses have proven themselves well. The method of treating joints with raw fish is somewhat unusual: for this you need to take pieces of fish, tie them to the affected area at night. Although there are hardly many people who can believe in the effectiveness of this method.

Keep in mind that any of the folk remedies should be used with caution. Before deciding on any of them, you should discuss this issue with your doctor, otherwise you can harm yourself, and this will slow down your recovery.

How to prevent the development of gonarthrosis - prevention

Arthrosis of the knee joint is treatable, but it is much more effective to start monitoring your joints before unpleasant symptoms appear. To avoid the development of this disease, you do not have to follow complex recommendations. You just need to familiarize yourself with the causes of the disease and take the necessary measures to avoid them:

  • Reduce food intake to avoid overeating. It is helpful to switch to a sparing diet while adhering to the principles of good nutrition.
  • Choose the right physical activity for the body.
  • Avoid hypothermia.
  • At the first symptoms of any disease, start treatment.
  • Try to avoid accidental injury.
  • Perform gymnastics regularly.
  • Systematically undergo examination by a specialist.

Conclusion

There is little pleasant connected with arthrosis of the knee joint: when it is very difficult for a person to move, he practically loses the joy of life. But often people bring themselves to such a state out of ignorance. They pay little attention to the fact that they once had pain in their knees, believing that everything will go away on its own. But, unfortunately, things don't turn out the way we want them to.

And in the end, you have to answer for your mistakes. Fortunately, modern medicine can come to the rescue of everyone and offers effective drugs to eliminate the symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint. But they need to be applied correctly due to the presence of certain side effects. Therefore, you should not choose for yourself the list of drugs that you will use for home therapy.

First, you should tell your doctor about your problem, who will draw up an individual treatment program for you. If you wish, you can supplement the prescribed therapy with alternative treatments that will increase the effectiveness and help you get rid of unpleasant symptoms faster. But here it is also necessary to obtain consent for the use of folk drugs from the attending physician. After all, not all people know how to use certain means, as a result of which, not observing the dosage of drugs, they cause even greater harm to their health.

For many people, preventing arthritis is of paramount importance, even though they are not aware of it. The reason is that with the modern lifestyle, many are at risk of developing this disease. But functional damage to the joints is a very serious problem that interferes not only with professional activity, but also with everyday life. Constant pain at the slightest movement causes discomfort, distracts from work and makes it difficult to perform everyday activities. It is for these reasons that it is extremely important to know how to properly prevent and treat this disease. Do not think that this information can be useful only for elderly and inactive people. Joint diseases affect both children and active young people. Proper prevention is important for any person.

First of all, it is worth learning how to prevent arthritis and similar diseases. If competent preventive measures are taken in time and followed regularly, then the chance of developing joint diseases is significantly reduced. Prevention of arthritis and arthrosis is especially important for those at risk. Regular orthopedic patients include people with a history of the following indicators:

  • joint injuries (very often athletes suffer from this);
  • being overweight, which puts a lot of stress on the joints;
  • transferred infectious diseases (against the background of a general weakening of the immune system);
  • genetic predisposition to joint diseases (gout, rheumatoid arthritis);
  • autoimmune diseases.

In addition, there is a high likelihood of arthritis or arthrosis in healthy people working in conditions that put special stress on the joints. And, of course, elderly people from 60 years old are at risk. To prevent inflammation and joint dysfunction, physical activity and keeping the body fit are important.

For this reason, the most effective measures are recognized as:

  • regular competent physical activity and exercise;
  • a healthy diet and a balanced diet;
  • massage.

Exercising will keep your muscles toned and help you avoid problems such as excess weight. Exercise has a beneficial effect on many muscle groups, joints and tendons and relieves unnecessary stress on the joints. Experts note that the following exercises are especially useful for preventing arthritis:

  1. Physical activity aimed at restoring muscle elasticity;
  2. Walking and hiking;
  3. Swimming (it is important to observe the temperature regime of the water - it should not be cold);
  4. Work on simulators that do not exert a serious axial load on the joints and spine.

But not all exercises are created equal. Some can worsen your health and increase your risk of joint inflammation. It is worth avoiding such loads as intense running, jumping and lifting weights.

In addition to exercising, a healthy and balanced diet can be beneficial for joints. Eating fruits or vegetables rich in coarse fiber will help flush out toxic substances from the body. It is believed that gelatin products can improve the health of your joints. Fish and foods rich in vegetable fats are a recognized source of beneficial acids necessary for normal tissue function. Therefore, it is recommended to include them in your diet. And it is necessary to limit the intake of salt, sugary foods and foods rich in cholesterol.

If you are already worried about pain and discomfort in the joints, then in no case should you diagnose yourself on your own. In this case, it is necessary to consult with a specialist and undergo a full diagnosis. Because often pains are only a symptom of a disease that has nothing to do with the joints directly. Standard methods of examination and detection of joint diseases are:

  • tomography;
  • arthrography;
  • ultrasound examination;
  • x-ray of the joints;
  • a blood test to detect inflammatory processes.

When painful sensations arise, people often try to get rid of the discomfort on their own. This is usually done either with the help of medication or using folk recipes.

But when choosing a way to deal with pain, you must first consult with your doctor.

Do not forget that many drugs and techniques have contraindications. Trying to cope with the problem yourself, you can only aggravate the resulting inflammation.

If you are injured, be sure to go to the surgeon and take an X-ray of the damaged joint. Even if the bruise seems insignificant to you, in the future it can turn into serious trouble. Often, inflammation occurs precisely because of chronic damage that was not treated at the time.

Correct load distribution

If you spend a lot of time at the computer, then you should not neglect special gymnastics, which is aimed at restoring joint mobility and renewing proper blood supply. Experts note that hand arthritis has rapidly "rejuvenated" in recent years. Since the fingers and wrists of the person working with the keyboard and "mouse" are constantly in an unnatural position.

Passion for power sports, including weight lifting, also does not benefit the knees, elbows and spine. If you want to acquire relief muscles, then it is wiser to contact an experienced trainer who will select an individual set of exercises.

Such a complex must necessarily take into account not only the general state of human health, but also his age, weight and lifestyle. Extreme types of hardening, such as winter swimming, also often lead to inflammatory processes.

And remember that it is wiser to prevent the development of the disease than to cure it. Preventing arthritis and other joint dysfunctions in the future will save you a lot of time and money. In addition, competent preventive measures will have a beneficial effect on the entire body, strengthening the immune system and developing the body.