SPECIAL ARTHROSIS




Supplements for joint' health

 


The 'better known as Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease, chronic and progressive that affects the joints.

They are usually the most affected joints most subject to wear, especially to the load of body weight.

The joints most frequently affected are the spine, hip, knee, fingers and toes. The affected joint shows characteristic changes of the cartilage, thinning, fissures, marginal osteophytes and subchondral areas of osteosclerosis in the loading areas. The synovial membrane occurs and hypertrophic hyperemic, edematous and the capsule is fibrosclerotic.

It 's the most common rheumatic disease, affecting both sexes affects about 10% of the general adult population and 50% of people over 60 years of age. In Italy it affects more than 4 million people.


TYPES OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

There are different types of arthritis:
  • Primary, if it is caused by genetic factors
  • Secondary (due to trauma, surgery, mechanical problems, septic problems)
  • Localized (monoarticular)
  • Generalized (pluriarticolare) 


SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS 

The most frequent symptom complained of by the patient with osteoarthritis is pain. This is accentuated by the movement and decreases with rest. Rarely occurs during sleep, unless it is a concomitant inflammatory process. With the progression of the disease may be present even at rest.

They are often deformed with "nodules".

Although it has never been verified a link between weather and arthritis, the patient often referred to the pain can intensify under climate change, especially with the humidity, the wind, or when switching from a warm to a cold.


RISK FACTORS FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS

Predisposing factors are obesity, female sex, joint trauma, stress continuously.   


THERAPY FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS


On radiographs at the beginning of the disease we find no alteration, but with the progress of the disease can be noted: joint space narrowing, alteration of the profile of the articular bone, osteophyte formation at the edge of the joints or at the point of insertion of the tendons, cystic areas in the bone immediately beneath the cartilage.

Arthritis is not curable, the patient should however be informed and reassured that osteoarthritis is not necessarily a debilitating factor.

The rest is only recommended in case of inflammatory exacerbation, while on the contrary it is useful to a gradual exercise to maintain joint function. In this sense the physiotherapy programs are useful for correcting the posture, to improve muscle tone, to teach the patient the correct movement without subjecting to the effort involved joints. Avoiding any factors that decrease the level of tolerance of pain, such as stress, anxiety, depression.

The application of heat through hot bags, blankets or warm baths may temporarily relieve stiffness.

If the patient is overweight, a diet is useful to bring the weight as near as possible to the ideal value.

For pain control may be useful easy to use analgesics such as acetaminophen.

For more persistent pain, especially during flare-inflammatory FANS are needed, bearing in mind the risk-benefit balance.

The intra-articular injection of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid can be very effective in the case of episodes of significant rigidity associated with pain. We advise against systemic glucocorticosteroids, although initially relieve pain, because the time change for the worse the disease.

In more severe cases, it can implant a prosthesis in place of the articulation now rendered unusable.




Supplements for joint' health