Our knees and hips are our largest joints, supporting the body's weight and providing the mobility that most people take for granted. The three basic types of arthritis that may affect the knee joint are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Post-traumatic Arthritis, with Osteoarthritis being the most common form of knee arthritis and knee pain. Although osteoarthritis is rare in young adults, results show that one in three people over the age of 62 has some amount of osteoarthritis on one or both knees.
Knees Suffer More Injury than Any Other Joint
It is possible to develop osteoarthritis in any joint but the knee is especially vulnerable as it is a weight-bearing joint, which is susceptible to daily wear and tear and sudden injury. In addition to genetic predisposition, poor bone alignment and minor or major injuries, high stress activities over time often lead to osteoarthritis. In some cases, normal age-related changes, such as reduced muscle mass and bone density, may make you more prone to knee injury as you age.
Knee Pain and Excess Weight
Studies consistently show a link between excess weight and knee pain, with many knee problems being avoidable by maintaining a healthy weight. Carrying only 10 pounds excess weight increases the pressure on the knees by 30-60 pounds, and it was found that about 56% of severely obese people suffered from significant knee pain in comparison to 15% of people who were not overweight. In addition, it was indicated that obese women stand nearly 4 times the chance of developing knee osteoarthritis in comparison to non-obese women, and obese men standing nearly 5 times the chance.
Symptoms of Knee Arthritis
Although some people suffer from tenderness and swelling in the morning, many people find that knee pain increases during the day, sometimes arising in the afternoon and getting steadily worse. Some of the common signs of osteoarthritis of the knee are:
• Pain with activities
• Intermittent or steady pain
• Limited range of motion
• Swelling or tenderness
• Stiffness when getting up from sitting or lying down
• Grinding or crunching sounds
• Pain with passive motion
Medical Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
There is no medical cure for osteoarthritis and although it is possible to regrow cartilage in a laboratory, getting implanted cartilage to grow in an osteoarthritic knee has not yet been successful, as the implanted cartilage eventually dies. In most cases over-the-counter pain relievers are used but many of them have a variety of side effects such as stomach pain, digestive problems, headaches and dizziness. In addition, NSAIDs actually sabotage the body's own efforts to heal itself by preventing the formation of new cartilage and accelerating the degeneration of the joints. Some surgical procedures are used for knee osteoarthritis, including arthroscopic surgery and knee replacement surgery.
Alternative Treatments for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
• Exercising is a crucial part of treatment, helping to improve balance and sometimes relieving pain. Specific exercises can be designed to help spread the forces of everyday activity to other joints thus helping to protect the knee. Regular exercise also strengthens the muscles and other structures around the knee, with range-of-motion exercises helping to maintain joint function and relieve stiffness.
• Using a cane in the hand on the side opposite to the affected knee will help to decrease demand on the arthritic joint.
• Wearing soft-soled shoes or special shock-absorbing shoes, and replacing them frequently, will help to reduce the impact on your knees.
• Weight loss is one of the most important treatments, alleviating pressure placed on the joint.
• Following an anti-osteoarthritis diet can help to control the destruction of joints and reduce inflammation
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