Arthropathy is the most common joint injury seen in medical practice and is associated with the degenerative dystrophic processes occurring therein.Mainly caused by the aging of the body and the destruction of joint tissue, this disease cannot be completely cured.However, according to experts, it is entirely possible for a person to slow down the damaging process, delay joint development, and maintain joint health in the long term.
Arthropathy and its symptoms
Destruction of joints begins with the gradual wear and tear of cartilage, the main element of this movable bone connection, which protects bones from friction at contact points and acts as a shock absorber under mechanical loads.In most cases, this process is caused by age-related deterioration of metabolic processes in the body and joint dystrophy.Therefore, symptoms of the disease usually appear after 40-50 years.However, negative changes in cartilage tissue occur at an earlier age, including progressive loss of elasticity, thinning, and destruction of cartilage.
The inability of the cartilage to fully perform its functions leads to negative changes in the bone tissue, which grows and forms osteophytes (growths in the form of nodules, spines, hooks), which are the source of pain when moving.Gradually, the pathological process covers the joint muscles, ligaments and tendons.The joints may become deformed.
The following symptoms indicate the development of arthrosis:
- Pain that worsens with movement and physical activity;
- Decreased range of motion of joints;
- Swelling and inflammation (in some cases);
- Deformation and immobility of joints (in severe disease).
Arthropathy mainly affects the knees, hips, lumbar spine, cervical spine and hands.
Disease causes and risk factors
The main causes of articular cartilage destruction and arthrosis include:
- genetic predisposition;
- Joint injuries, which may be minor but multiple and repeated, or one-off but severe (e.g., meniscus injury);
- Age-related changes in cartilage and bone tissue.
There are factors that increase the likelihood of developing joint disease.The main reason is that being overweight increases the load on the joints; a sedentary lifestyle interferes with the normal blood supply and nutrition of the joints, worsening the metabolism of the joints.Arthropathy can also be triggered by excessive physical activity, local inflammatory processes, hormonal changes (e.g. menopause).
Treatment or prevention?
It is impossible to completely cure this disease - this is the common conclusion of rheumatologists, who are tasked with fighting joint diseases.Modern treatments can slow the process of cartilage destruction, relieve inflammation, reduce pain and improve the patient's condition.For this purpose, the following drugs are used to treat arthropathy:
- Chondroprotective agents based on chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine;
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid or hormone drugs;
- Physiotherapy procedures (ultrasound, electrophoresis, laser and magnetic therapy, mud application);
- Physical therapy.
In severe cases, they resort to surgery and replacing the joint with a prosthesis.
Modern medicine considers that the main task in combating this disease is to prevent joint disease and promote a lifestyle that helps maintain healthy joints.First of all, this applies to teenagers and young people who are actively involved in sports, who need to develop special skills for protecting their joints during training (warm-up and warm-up of joints, use of special protective devices: knee pads, elbow pads, etc.).For people who are inactive, the main measures to prevent joint disease are to maintain a normal weight and physical activity.
weight loss and nutrition
Numerous studies have shown that obese people have a 3-fold increased risk of joint disease.This is not only because excess weight increases the burden on the joints, but also because excess fat triggers the development of many pathological processes in the body, leading to serious diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which also negatively affects the condition of the joints.
The purpose of nutrition as prevention of joint disease is to flood the body with the nutrients necessary for the normal function of articular cartilage and to slow down the degeneration process of articular cartilage.Following these basic principles will not only help keep your joints in good shape, but will also prevent you from gaining too much weight:
- Reduce the caloric content of foods by eliminating or limiting fatty meats and poultry;
- Consume enough low-fat dairy products to provide calcium for bones;
- Increase the proportion of cereals, vegetables, and fruits to supplement the vitamins and trace elements needed by the body's joints.
During nutrition, special attention should be paid to foods and dishes containing natural substances that protect and strengthen cartilage tissue.These substances primarily include collagen, a protein that is part of the cartilage, ligaments and skin of animals and fish.For this purpose, it is necessary to include in the diet aspic, aspic (especially fish jelly), jellies and other dishes containing gelatin-modified collagen.
Physical activity prevents joint disease
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main enemies of human health, including the musculoskeletal system.While physical activity allows you to simultaneously achieve many of the goals you need to maintain joint and overall health:
- Improve blood supply and tissue nutrition;
- Normalizes metabolic processes and prevents excessive weight gain;
- develops muscles and thereby strengthens the skeletal system;
- Train various systems of the body and improve immunity;
- Helps improve mood.
To keep joints in good condition, they should not be overloaded.But that doesn't mean you should give up physical activity.Exercise is absolutely necessary for the joints, but should be moderate and correspond to each person's body shape, age and other individual characteristics.
Experts say walking is the best way to prevent knee disease at any age, recommending at least 6,000 steps a day.Swimming is very beneficial when movement occurs and body weight does not negatively affect bones.Participating in any sports-related sport or favorite activity (dancing, gardening, outdoor games with children), as long as it is regular, can help prevent joint disease and keep your joints in good condition over the long term.