What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis among the hundreds of conditions grouped under the title of ''arthritis''.
Osteoarthritis is therefore defined as ''the body's inability to repair damaged joint tissue''. And in this case, the tissue concerned is the articular cartilage. This cartilaginous tissue lines the bone surfaces in contact with each other to promote good joint sliding and avoid direct bone contact between two or more segments.
For several reasons that we will discuss, the cartilage can be injured, cracked, partially or totally worn. This generates inflammation within the joint itself. Inflammation will therefore give its typical symptoms, known as the 4 pillars of inflammation: Heat, redness, pain and edema (swelling).
Many factors contribute to the development of osteoarthritis, such as age, obesity, gender, occupation, participation in certain sports, joint injuries or operations undergone and genetics.
Osteoarthritis itself is not painful. Moreover, it is quite common to discover osteoarthritis by chance during an x-ray for example. But the pain is generated during the solicitation of the osteoarthritic joint. It is therefore a tissue damage, exacerbated by a joint load (movement of the joint, load applied to the joint, etc.) which results in an inflammatory flare-up each time it is badly solicited, leading to a loss of function, stiffness, and pain.
Can I ''grow'' the cartilage again?
A recurring question I hear. First, cartilage is not a plant. It is not by ''fertilizing'' that we can ''re-grow'' it. Moreover, the very definition of osteoarthritis is the body's inability to repair damaged joint tissue. At the moment, there is no treatment for osteoarthritis. There are ways to care for and manage the associated symptoms. Although there are medical advances and research into new processes, the results are still quite inconclusive. The science is advancing, but in the meantime, the therapy consists of relieving the pain, a common sign of all types of osteoarthritis, and slowing the progression of the disease.
Who can diagnose osteoarthritis?
Your doctor. And nobody else. For the following simple reason: a panoply of clinical signs and symptoms will make your doctor suspect the presence of osteoarthritis. He will have recourse, if he deems it necessary, to medical imaging (X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, etc.) to see the inventory, the articular condition and the level of evolution of the attack. Thus, armed with his data, your doctor will be able to prescribe the necessary treatments.
And manual therapy in all this?
As mentioned above, the therapy is to relieve the symptoms. Outside of an inflammatory flare-up, your therapist (physiotherapist, massage therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, osteopath, etc.) will work to loosen muscle tension that can affect suppleness and flexibility, improve blood circulation, help restore function and apply different means to relieve the symptoms. And if obesity is the cause, the nutritionist's contribution to managing weight loss is also paramount.
I don't have osteoarthritis, can I prevent it?
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, osteoarthritis has multiple causes. Age, obesity, repetitive movements, problematic postures, metabolic disorders, medical and disease conditions, etc. It is quite common to have a combination of factors that will contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
On certain factors, we have no power! But it is certain that one can act on those that one can control. Some of these preventive measures include:
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Weight management.
- Moderate, regular sport, including strengthening, stretching and activities that promote the cardiovascular and respiratory system.
- postural awareness.
- Manual treatments that can always improve musculoskeletal condition.
- The prevention of occupational diseases through the various prevention programs within companies and in accordance with labor standards and laws.
But a last rather important point is listening to what is happening in your own body. If you feel discomfort or pain, whether in the tendons, or the joint or any other related structure, even if this discomfort is slight or minimal, consult your doctor. Don't wait ''to see if it will pass like the last time I had the same thing.'' Quickly ask your therapist for advice, who will be able to refer you to the right resource, or who will be able to provide you with the right care and good advice. Your therapist, your pharmacist, your nurse, and your doctor are there to meet your needs, as long as you meet them in time, to effectively prevent them in time and effectively.
Patrick Georgevich
Physiotherapist – Entrepreneur
