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The Pinecone
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January 2016 • 5 •
ARTHR I T I S
Way s to He l p Ease
Arthritis is inflammation and stiffness of the
joints. There are many forms of arthritis but the
most common is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis
is a chronic disease that affects approximately
27 million Americans. It is caused by aging
joints, injury, and obesity. It occurs when the
protective cartilage on the ends of your bones
wears down over time. Osteoarthritis gradually
worsens and there are no cures that exist.
Osteoarthritis can cause damage to any joint in
your body, but the main joints that are affected
are the joints in your hands, hips, knees, and
spine. Symptoms that are seen are pain,
tenderness, stiffness, loss of flexibility, grating
sensation, and bone spurs. These symptoms are
most often developed gradually because the
cartilage that cushions the bones in your joints
is gradually deteriorating. Some key factors that
can cause this deteriorating is old age, obesity,
joint injuries, genetics, bone deformities, and
other diseases.
There are many preventable actions that can
be done to help prevent osteoarthritis. The
preventions include maintaining your weight,
exercising, eating right, and treating and
avoiding injuries. Controlling your weight is the
most valuable action that could be done. Being
overweight strains your joints which causes
the cartilage to wear away. Increasing your
physical activity can help prevent osteoarthritis
by strengthening the muscles around the joints
to help protect and provide support. Exercising
can increase the lubrication to the cartilage of
the joint which reduces deterioration. Being
active can also help control your weight. All
of the preventions go hand and hand. Staying
healthy is important as you get older and can
contribute to a long happy life.
Please join Katie Liberowski on January 11th
at 10am in the PAC for the Healthy Learning
Lecture on this topic. If you have additional
questions, please contact Jason Sparrow OTD,
OTR/L at 901-366-1819.