Arthritis
Arthritis is swelling and tenderness in one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which usually worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis causes the breakdown of cartilage (the hard, smooth tissue that covers the ends of bones to form joints). Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, starting in the lining of the joints.
Gout can occur when there is too much uric acid in the blood, which causes uric acid crystals to form. Infection or an underlying disease, such as psoriasis or lupus, can cause other types of arthritis. Treatment depends on the type of arthritis. The main goals of arthritis treatment are to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Types of arthritis
▸ Ankylosing spondylitis
▸ Gout
▸ Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
▸ Osteoarthritis
▸ Psoriatic arthritis
▸ Reactivation arthritis
▸ Rheumatoid arthritis
▸ Septic arthritis
▸ Arthritis of the thumb
Causes
It is not always clear what causes arthritis. Most doctors believe it is a combination of factors, including muscle weakness, obesity, genetics, joint injury or stress, frequent exposure to cold, and aging. The cartilage in the knee begins to break down, and the bones of the knee rub against each other when walking. People who work in places where the knee is subject to repetitive stress are at high risk for this condition. Bone deformities increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis because the joint is already deformed and may contain defective cartilage. Having gout, rheumatoid arthritis, Paget's disease of bone, or septic arthritis increases the risk of osteoarthritis. Some doctors and most podiatrists believe that flat feet lead to an increased incidence and early onset of knee osteoarthritis. A study of military recruits with moderate to severe flat feet showed that they were nearly twice as likely to develop arthritis compared to recruits with normal arches.
Symptoms of Arthritis
The most common signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Depending on the type of arthritis, signs and symptoms may include:
▸Pain
▸Stiffness
▸Swelling
▸Redness
▸Reduced range of motion
How to treat
▸Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These are the most commonly used drugs to relieve pain and improve joint function, including topical and systemic drugs.
▸Physical therapy: By promoting local blood circulation and reducing inflammatory response, the purpose of reducing joint pain and improving patient satisfaction is achieved. Common methods include hydrotherapy, cold therapy, heat therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, massage, acupuncture, etc.
▸Mobility assistance: Reduce pain and improve patient satisfaction by reducing the weight on the affected joints, such as canes, crutches, walkers, joint braces, etc.
▸Joint function training: Mainly refers to the flexion and extension of the knee joint in a non-weight-bearing position to maintain the maximum range of motion of the joint, including passive joint movement, traction, joint assisted movement and active movement.
▸Drug treatment: Including Chinese patent medicine, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, biological agents, etc.
▸ Exercise therapy: moderate exercise such as swimming, walking, Tai Chi, etc. can enhance the strength of muscles around joints and maintain joint flexibility.
▸ Traditional Chinese medicine treatment: such as Chinese medicine conditioning, acupuncture, moxibustion, etc., can play a certain auxiliary therapeutic role.
▸ Surgical treatment: when the joints are severely deformed and function is lost, joint replacement and other surgeries may be required.
▸ Lifestyle adjustment: including keeping warm, maintaining a good posture, and a reasonable diet.
▸ Psychological support: patients may experience anxiety, depression and other emotions due to the disease, and it is important to provide psychological support and counseling.
▸ Injection therapy: including hormone drug injection, sodium hyaluronate intra-articular injection, platelet-rich plasma injection (PRP) and ozone intra-articular injection therapy.
▸ Use of orthotics or walkers: such as canes, knee pads, wheelchairs, ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), etc., to reduce the load on the affected joints and facilitate movement.
