If you work at a desk, make sure your chair is at the correct height, and take regular breaks to move around. Find out more about common posture mistakes and fixes. Being overweight or obese increases the strain on your joints and your risk of developing osteoarthritis.
If you're overweight, losing weight may help lower your chances of developing the condition. Use the healthy weight calculator to find out whether you're overweight or obese. Find out more more about losing weight. Page last reviewed: 19 August Next review due: 19 August Symptoms of osteoarthritis The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are joint pain and stiffness, and problems moving the joint.
Some people also have symptoms such as: - swelling - tenderness - grating or crackling sound when moving the affected joints The severity of osteoarthritis symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, and between different affected joints. Causes of osteoarthritis As part of normal life, your joints are exposed to a constant low level of damage. The exact cause is not known, but several things are thought to increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis, including: joint injury — overusing your joint when it has not had enough time to heal after an injury or operation other conditions secondary arthritis — osteoarthritis can happen in joints severely damaged by a previous or existing condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout age — your risk of developing the condition increases as you get older.
Diagnosing osteoarthritis To help determine whether you have osteoarthritis, a GP will first ask you about your symptoms and examine your joints. A GP may suspect osteoarthritis if: you're aged 45 or older you have joint pain that gets worse the more you use your joints the stiffness in your joints is not there in the mornings, or lasts less than 30 minutes If your symptoms are slightly different, this may indicate another joint condition. Treating osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition and cannot be cured, but it doesn't necessarily get any worse over time and it can sometimes gradually improve.
Mild symptoms can sometimes be managed with simple measures including: regular exercise losing weight if you're overweight wearing suitable footwear using special devices to reduce the strain on your joints during your everyday activities If your symptoms are more severe, you may need additional treatments such as painkillers and a structured exercise plan with a physiotherapist. Find out more about treating osteoarthritis. Living with osteoarthritis As osteoarthritis is a long-term condition, it's important you receive support to help you cope with any issues such as reduced mobility, and advice on any necessary financial support.
Preventing osteoarthritis It's not possible to prevent osteoarthritis altogether. Exercise Avoid exercise that puts strain on your joints and forces them to bear an excessive load, such as running and weight training.
In the thumb, pain is most commonly experienced at the base of the thumb and worsens with gripping and pinching movements. Foot and ankle: OA can affect the ankle and the joints within the foot, commonly the joint at the base of the big toe. This causes pain when walking and can result in swelling or deformity at the joint that can lead to the formation of bunions. Bunions have the potential to compound foot pain and deformity. Back and neck: The first sign of OA is typically stiffness or pain.
In general, once the source of the pain is identified, an OA diagnosis is straightforward. Unfortunately, an OA diagnosis of the back and neck is not always straightforward. Although back pain is very common, definitively diagnosing the source of back pain is a challenge.
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Osteoarthritis OA. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. How is OA treated? There is no cure for OA, so doctors usually treat OA symptoms with a combination of therapies, which may include the following: Increasing physical activity Physical therapy with muscle strengthening exercises Weight loss Medications, including over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription drugs Supportive devices such as crutches or canes Surgery if other treatment options have not been effective In addition to these treatments, people can gain confidence in managing their OA with self-management strategies.
Physical Activity for Arthritis Some people are concerned that physical activity will make their arthritis worse, but joint-friendly physical activity can actually improve arthritis pain, function, and quality of life.
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