Hyderabad: Setting in of arthritis at a younger age is becoming a major cause for concern, said state doctors on World Arthritis Day, which was observed on October 12. The week from October 12 to October 20 is observed as World Bone and Joint Week.
Increasing incidences of trauma, sports injuries, wrong exercises and improper diet are adversely affecting bones. Wearing down of cartilages in persons aged between 25 and 35 years is a cause of concern and orthopaedics feel that there is a strong need to protect bones from wrongful wear and tear.
Dr Raghuveer Reddy, a shoulder and knee specialist, said, “Trauma and sports injury cases are leaving a lot of young people injured. And arthritis is setting in too early for them. Wear and tear, if attended to, will help them heal and stay fit.”
The major causes of early arthritis are obesity, improper diet, remaining immobile due to long hours of sitting and wrong exercises like jogging on uneven surfaces or running on the treadmill on high speeds.
Dr Mithin Aachi, joint replacement and arthroscopy surgeon at Apollo Hospital said, “The most common problem in young patients is obesity. A marginal increase in weight overloads the joints up to four times and leads to faster wear and tear.
The best way to take care of your joints, especially your knees, is to avoid putting on weight.” Sedentary lifestyle is another reason, said experts as such a lifestyle negates the natural elasticity of joints and makes them prone to early failure.
Dr Akhil Dadi, senior orthopaedic surgeon, said, “ A moderate exercise regime is must to maintain good health of the body’s joints. The two major problems of knee degeneration continue to be aging and rheumatoid arthritis; 10 per cent of the population suffers from this problem.
The remaining are lifestyle-oriented. Simple modifications in diet, maintaining proper posture while sitting and walking and balancing your weight will go a long way in maintaining healthy knees.”
Food rich in proteins, simple carbohydrates, fresh fruits, vegetables, lots of fluids and antioxidants help to maintain good bone health.
Apart from this, regular exercise like swimming, jogging and strength training, where the core abdomen muscles are strengthened, help the knees balance the body’s weight properly. Joints are healthy when the body’s weight is properly balanced.
Alternative therapies
Alternate therapies like hydrotherapy and yoga give relief to joints and mobilise movement which has been stiffened. Hydrotherapy (water-based exercises) helps those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Small and regular movements under water give relief from pain and help improve mobility.
Dr Aishwarya B, therapist and ayurveda practitioner, said, “Simply immersing the body or affected parts in in lukewarm water will give relief from pain and mobilise the joints.
There is some marked improvement in pain management and mobility through homeopathy. Dr N Srinivas Rao said, “Patients are told that damage already done to the cartilage or bones can’t be rectified. But his treatment can help prevent further damage.”
