Arthritis - What Causes It? Plus: Five Tips To Keep Your Joints Pain-Free!

Did you know arthritis doesn’t just strike seniors? It’s true. Arthritis is an extremely debilitating condition that can affect people of all ages. Although many people are familiar with the symptoms of arthritis - pain, stiffness and limited range of motion - most people don’t know exactly what causes arthritis. In a nutshell, here’s what happens: Normally, joint cartilage is smooth, shiny and moist. In healthy joints, the cartilage-covered surfaces move against each other with a minimal amount of friction. Think of two smooth surfaces – such as glass or whiteboards – rubbing together. In healthy joints, cartilage absorbs nutrients and fluid just like a sponge. This absorption keeps the cartilage healthy, flexible and smooth. And like a sponge, when you compress cartilage, fluid is pushed out. When you let the cartilage relax, it draws fluid - and nutrients - back in. Your joints go through that same process every time you use them: fluid in / fluid out. This keeps your joints healthy, lubricated and full of nutrients. Arthritis is a process of degeneration of the cartilage in your joints. And because the cartilage is weakened, it dries and cracks. In this state, cartilage is not able to properly absorb shock and cushion your bones. When that happens, the joint becomes painful and stiff. This causes pain, which limits movement which further aggravates the condition and starts a vicious cycle. That’s arthritis. The root cause of this cycle can be many reasons. Repetitive stress and injuries such as falls and car accidents are common causes. Also, some professional athletes such as football players can have an earlier onset of arthritis than many people due to the amount of impact their joints absorb. Whatever the underlying cause, the result it almost always the same: pain. When your joints are in pain, you are not able to go through your full range of motion for that key fluid in/ fluid out process to occur. What happens is the cartilage then dries out and develops cracks. So, instead of moving smoothly like glass surfaces, the rough edges of the cartilage start behaving like sandpaper against sandpaper. Heat, friction and … pain! In some extreme cases, as the cartilage degenerates, it may decay until it exposes the bone itself. Then there is no cushion at all: bone rubs against bone. In our office, I typically see these extreme cases in knees and shoulders – joints that get a lot of use and carry the twin stressors of weight and force. In these extreme cases, sometimes the only remedy is joint replacement surgery. However, the good news is that there are things you can do to minimize the effects of arthritis before it reaches that level. Follow these key secrets and you’ll keep your arthritis – and the pain associated with arthritis - in check:

Arthritis Tip #1: Get A Professional Evaluation.

First, if you’re experiencing symptoms of arthritis, you want to be evaluated by a physical therapist. You do NOT want to take information you read on the internet or hear from a friend and start acting. Every body is different. A physical therapist will evaluate you and determine your range of motion, degree of flexibility, and the acuteness of your condition. And then they will recommend a particular therapy based on those baselines. Your treatment options depend to a large extent on the personalized nature of your condition.

Arthritis Tip #2: Don’t Be Afraid To Move The Joints

A common mis-perception with people who have arthritis is that they should not move the
arthritic joint. The reality is that successful treatment requires that you do move your joints. Not moving your joints actually aggravates the problem because less nutrients and fluid will be reaching the arthritic joint creating the vicious cycle we talked about earlier: pain causes inactivity. Inactivity causes de-conditioning of the muscles around the joint and a decrease in the nutrients reaching the joint. And so on. Physical therapy, exercise and movement are the cornerstones of successful arthritis management.

Arthritis Tip #3: — Educate Yourself About What Arthritis Really Is.

Keeping yourself educated is always a good idea when it comes to any disease or health condition you’re experiencing. You can talk to your doctor and ask him or her questions, you can look up “arthritis” on reputable internet sites such as Web M.D. or Mayoclinic.com and you can ask friends or family with arthritis how they deal with the condition. You should research what types of medications are best for arthritis. And you could research the types of alternative treatments that exist for arthritis. Many people feel acupuncture is a highly effective way to limit the discomfort of arthritis. Patient education is a big key in successful arthritis management.

Arthritis Tip #4: Avoid Extremely Repetitive Activities

Try to avoid repetitive activities that place stress on your joints. And take frequent breaks. If you simply must undergo repetitive motions, you may want to use the right support or splints for your wrist. Also, some arthritis sufferers notice that certain motions in their hands – such as making a tight fist – also aggravate their symptoms. Above all, use neutral, natural positions for your wrists.

Arthritis Tip #5: Use Proper Body Mechanics

Your entire body is a “kinetic chain”. Body mechanics determine how much force and strain go through your body. Most people think of good posture as good body mechanics, but there is a lot more to it than that. You should see your Physical Therapist for an evaluation of the right body mechanics for you, in your individual situation. He or she can also help you find out what your range of motion limits are. Follow these simple tips for managing your arthritis and it will help you reduce the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis.

– Robert Inglis, MPT, CSCS
If you have any questions about this article, please email me at: mycorept@yahoo.com