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What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, is the most common of the arthritis conditions. The condition tends
to develop in men at an earlier age than in women. It occurs when the cartilage covering the bony surfaces of joints breaks down or when spurs develop at
the edge of the bones in a joint. The condition is caused by the excessive wear and tear of joints resulting from overuse of a joint, obesity, or
misalignment of the bones forming a joint. Most affected are weight-bearing joints such as the lower back, hips and knees. Normal wear and tear of joints that occurs throughout life does not cause osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis commonly affects the elderly, though not all exhibit symptoms.
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- painful joints, that usually worsen with exercise or repetitive use;
- swelling of the affected joint;
- creaking, pain and stiffness that restrict movement and occasionally disrupt sleep;
- weakened muscles surrounding the affected joint, due to disuse; and
- joint deformity—a formation of hard bony enlargements—for example, of the small joints of the fingers. Bony enlargement of the small joint at
the end of the fingers is called a Heberden's node. Bony enlargement of the middle joint of the finger is called a Bouchard's node.
Osteoarthritis of the joint at the base of the big toes leads to the formation of a bunion.
What causes osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is caused by the wearing out of the cartilage covering the bone ends in a joint. This
may be due to excessive strain over prolonged periods of time, or due to other joint diseases, injury or deformity.
Primary osteoarthritis is commonly associated with ageing and general degeneration of joints.
Secondary osteoarthritis is generally the consequence of another disease or condition, such as
repeated trauma or surgery to the affected joint, or abnormal joint structures from birth.
Uric acid crystal build-up is the cause of gout and long-term crystal build-up in the joints may cause deformity.
Some people may have congenital abnormalities of the joints—for example, Perthes' disease of the hips—that cause early degeneration and subsequently cause osteoarthritis
What you can do
- Apply VITAFON Apparatus Vibroacoustic's Vibraphones after selecting the related pre-progranmed operation on the sick aria. Folow the instruction manual for treatment
sessions.
- Rest the joint until the pain subsides to prevent further inflammation.
- To ease the pain or stiffness of the joint, apply VITAFON's vibraphones on the joint for about 15-20 minutes twice a day.
- If you are overweight, try to reduce weight to lighten the load on weight-bearing joints.
- Participate in regular exercise.
Preventing osteoarthritis
- Try to avoid excessive exertion.
- Avoid a particular activity temporarily if the affected joint starts to hurt.
- If you are overweight, try to reduce weight.
- Always try to maintain a good posture.
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