Arthritis and Joint Replacements
Arthritis generally refers to the condition of osteoarthritis, which is defined as joint degradation and results in warmth, tenderness, stiffness and pain within a joint, especially on movement. In theory, any joint of the body may be prone to arthritis, however the most common areas are in the lower spine, neck, wrists and hands, hip and knee. This doesn't mean, however, that stiffness in general means that you have arthritis; there are a number of causes of joint stiffness and osteoarthritis can only be fully diagnosed by x-ray.
It has a number of causes, including general wear and tear. Therefore, it tends to be people of middle age and older who are mainly affected. There can be, however, a hereditary element to osteoarthritis, which means that it may occasionally affect young adults and teenagers. It may lead to the wearing away of protective layers of cartilage around a joint (especially in the knee) and to the weakening or wasting of muscles around the joint, as the sufferer will tend to use the joint less to reduce pain.
For most people, the most debilitating areas affected by osteoarthritis are the hip and knee. As these are the body's main weight bearing joints, along with the ankle, they are prone to high levels of compression, with three to five times a person's body weight passing through these joints with every step and are consequently subject to a greater level of wear and tear than seen elsewhere in the body. Body weight is a key issue, with every pound of extra weight consequently adding three to five pounds of extra weight through each knee on walking.
Not surprisingly, therefore, knee and hip replacement operations have become commonplace, with the NHS carrying out approximately 160,000 hip and knee replacements every year.
Most people find that joint replacements are effective in reducing pain, however overall effectiveness may also depend on the patient's underlying health and age at the time of the operation.
Treatment for osteoarthritis is generally a combination of G.P. prescribed pain relieving medication, exercise, manual therapy and weight loss, if appropriate. Whilst osteopathy cannot reverse the damage to the joint, it can help to reduce tension in the surrounding muscles which, in turn, will improve joint mobility. Osteopathic treatment can also help to improve the flow of bodily fluids around the affected joint, which will assist in nutrition of the joint and the removal of the body's waste products.
It has a number of causes, including general wear and tear. Therefore, it tends to be people of middle age and older who are mainly affected. There can be, however, a hereditary element to osteoarthritis, which means that it may occasionally affect young adults and teenagers. It may lead to the wearing away of protective layers of cartilage around a joint (especially in the knee) and to the weakening or wasting of muscles around the joint, as the sufferer will tend to use the joint less to reduce pain.
For most people, the most debilitating areas affected by osteoarthritis are the hip and knee. As these are the body's main weight bearing joints, along with the ankle, they are prone to high levels of compression, with three to five times a person's body weight passing through these joints with every step and are consequently subject to a greater level of wear and tear than seen elsewhere in the body. Body weight is a key issue, with every pound of extra weight consequently adding three to five pounds of extra weight through each knee on walking.
Not surprisingly, therefore, knee and hip replacement operations have become commonplace, with the NHS carrying out approximately 160,000 hip and knee replacements every year.
Most people find that joint replacements are effective in reducing pain, however overall effectiveness may also depend on the patient's underlying health and age at the time of the operation.
Treatment for osteoarthritis is generally a combination of G.P. prescribed pain relieving medication, exercise, manual therapy and weight loss, if appropriate. Whilst osteopathy cannot reverse the damage to the joint, it can help to reduce tension in the surrounding muscles which, in turn, will improve joint mobility. Osteopathic treatment can also help to improve the flow of bodily fluids around the affected joint, which will assist in nutrition of the joint and the removal of the body's waste products.