Arthritis is one of the most common health issues people face, and osteoarthritis in the knees is one of its most common forms. This common form of Arthritis, i.e., osteoarthritis, is affecting millions of people worldwide. Osteoarthritis in knee affects the people of the older generation and the people in their 30s and 40s nowadays.
Osteoarthritis is a serious issue and thus can’t be ignored or carelessly tackled. As osteoarthritis mainly affects the joints in the hands, hips, spine, and knees, osteoarthritis is found in the knees in most cases. And it is a serious issue that should be dealt with utmost sincerity.
WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Osteoarthritis is common for arthritis that occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time. It mainly affects the joints in the body such as hips, spine, hands, and knees. Osteoarthritis in knees reflects some symptoms that make it easier to diagnose and hence treat accordingly.
SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
The symptoms of osteoarthritis in knees develop gradually but get worsen with time. However, the reflection of the symptoms helps in the proper treatment and that too in time. The symptoms of Osteoarthritis include-
Pain- The most common symptom of osteoarthritis includes pain. The affected joints from the osteoarthritis, the knees in case of osteoarthritis in knees sometimes hurt, especially during and after the movement.
Loss of flexibility- Another common symptom of osteoarthritis includes the loss of flexibility. In the case of osteoarthritis in knees, the affected joints lose their flexibility and make it hard to move the knees or that particular joint through its full range of motion.
Bone spurs- The symptoms of osteoarthritis also include bone spurs. The extra bits of bone that feel like hard lumps can form around the affected joint, around the knees in case of osteoarthritis in knees.
Stiffness- Stiffness in the affected joints from osteoarthritis is also one of the symptoms of osteoarthritis. It can be noticed best once you get awake from your sleep or after you get inactive and try to get active all of a sudden.
Tenderness- Tenderness can also be felt if someone suffers from osteoarthritis. You might feel tender when you apply light pressure to the affected joints or near the joints.
Grating sensation- Grating sensation, too, is one of the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis. You can feel the grating sensation when you use the affected joints, knees in case of osteoarthritis in knees. You might also hear the sound of popping and cracking while using those joints.
Swelling- Swelling of the affected joints is also one of the symptoms of osteoarthritis. This is caused by the inflammation of soft tissues around the joints, in the knees, as in osteoarthritis.
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CAUSES OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN KNEES
Every health issue is occurring in the body for some reasons that are termed as the causes of that particular disease and in the case of osteoarthritis in knees. The cause of osteoarthritis is the cushioning of the cartilage at the ends of the bones of the joints. Cartilage is a slippery and firm tissue that helps in enabling the frictionless motion of the joints. And eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, the bone will rub on bone.
Wear and tear disease is also one of the names of Osteoarthritis. Besides the breaking down of cartilage, osteoarthritis also affects the entire joint. This results in changes in the bone and deterioration of the connective tissues that hold the joints together and attach muscle to the bone. This also results in the inflammation of the joint lining. However, some factors might be termed as the causes of osteoarthritis, such as-.
Old Age- The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age.
Obesity- Obesity can also be one of the causes of osteoarthritis, as carrying extra body weight contributes to osteoarthritis in so many ways. The greater the weight, the higher is the risk of osteoarthritis. The increased weight adds stress to the weight-bearing joints such as hips and knees.
Repeated stress on the joints- If your job or daily activities includes stress on the joints, then the repeated stress on the same joints leads to the development of osteoarthritis in knees.
Joint injuries- If you have suffered any kind of injuries while playing or facing a sudden accident can increase the chances of developing osteoarthritis. Moreover, if the injury is years ago and seems to be healed can also increase the risk of getting osteoarthritis.
Genetics- The chances of developing osteoarthritis can also be inherited.
Bone deformities- Some people are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage that increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Certain metabolic diseases- Some metabolic diseases such as diabetes or a condition in which the body has too much iron. These diseases can lead to the development of osteoarthritis in knees.
