It is estimated that one in six Australians suffer from a form of arthritis. That’s approximately 3.9 million people. Unfortunately, research also suggests that the number of people with arthritis will grow, it is likely to double within the next few years.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis happens when your joints become inflamed. The inflammation makes your joints stiff and painful. When this occurs in the knee it is referred to as knee arthritis and it can make it difficult to climb stairs or even walk.
Of course, this means that sufferers frequently need time off work, it is one of the most common causes of missed work in the country.
Types Of Knee Arthritis
There are approximately 100 different types of arthritis although the majority of cases are either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid.
- Osteoarthritis
This type of arthritis is the most common and is associated with normal wear and tear of the knee joint. It generally occurs in people aged fifty and older. In most cases, the cartilage in the knee is worn away through activity over time and this reduces the space between bones. When you move your knee the bones start to grate against each other. These damages the bones while causing inflammation and pain.
- Rheumatoid
In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, you are either predisposed to it or not. With this type, the joint tissue is attacked causing swelling and inflammation in the knee. This makes it painful to move the joint.
In addition, this type of knee arthritis will soften your bones, potentially causing further issues.
Dealing With Knee Arthritis
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for knee arthritis. However, there are several things you can do to ease the pain and reduce the problem.
- See A Physiotherapist
If you look for physiotherapy near me you’ll find a reputable one that can assess your knee arthritis and provide you with a selection of exercises. These are designed to maintain movement and minimize pain. It can be very effective.
- Minimize Aggravating Activities
If you notice that certain activities are more aggravating to your knee arthritis then it is a good idea to avoid doing them. While being active is good, aggravating your injury is not.
- Avoid High-Impact Activities
Equally, any high-impact activity should be avoided. That means avoiding running and skipping, you can swim or cycle instead, it will place less strain on your knees.
- Lose Weight
If you are overweight then it can help to lose weight as this will reduce the strain on your knees. Anything that lightens the load will make it easier to deal with the pain of knee arthritis and reduce the damage.
You should note that painkillers can be used in occasional circumstances but you should avoid using them all the time. This can lead to dependency and a reduction in the efficiency of the painkillers, which is not beneficial if you experience other issues.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
