Osteoarthritis is one of the most common bone diseases, and it often affects the elderly. Although it is an incurable disease, it can be treated and its negative effects on quality of life can be reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle based on healthy nutrition and regular exercise and physical activities.
Professor Hanno Steckel, an orthopedic surgeon in the German capital, Berlin, explained that osteoarthritis is a non-regenerative damage to the articular cartilage tissue, which works to reduce friction resulting from constant joint movement and acts as a cushion to protect the bones.
Steckel added that the erosion of this protective layer due to the disease leads to friction between the bone tissues, and the friction is accompanied by inflammation that affects the joint cavity and causes pain.
In general, all joints in the body are exposed to changes and damage to cartilage tissue, but the most common joints affected by this disease are the knee and hip joints, as they are the joints that bear the most weight of a person.
Risk factors and symptoms
Steckel pointed out that the risk factors leading to osteoarthritis are genetic factors, aging, and obesity, in addition to excessive stress on the joint due to injury or the nature of the work. For example, the profession of hairdressing causes stress on the thumb joint.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain and stiffness in the joint, in addition to swelling and limited movement.
healthy lifestyle
For his part, German orthopedic doctor Sven Ostermeier pointed out that osteoarthritis is incurable, but it can be confronted and its negative effects on quality of life can be reduced by following a healthy lifestyle; weight should be reduced in order to enjoy a normal weight, in addition to quitting smoking and alcohol.
Ostermeier added that anti-inflammatory nutrition plays an important role in combating osteoarthritis, as it is necessary to avoid foods that stimulate inflammatory processes in the body, such as white flour, sugar, and processed meat products, in addition to the necessity of avoiding fried foods, as they contain trans fatty acids.
In general, a diet should be low in meat and high in vegetables and complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, in addition to incorporating unsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 acids into the diet, as they work to reduce inflammation. Food sources of these acids are fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, in addition to walnuts and flaxseed.
Some spices, such as turmeric and ginger, are also beneficial for joints, as they are anti-inflammatory substances.
It is also important to continue practicing sports and movement activities that are friendly to the joints, such as cycling, swimming, walking with poles, yoga and Pilates.
On the other hand, you should avoid sports that may put a burden on the joints due to pressing movements and rapid changes in direction, such as ball sports, running, and tennis.
It is also important to do muscle strengthening exercises, because the muscles surround the joint and work to stabilize it. The better the muscles are trained, the better one can move the joint. In addition, strong muscles reduce inflammation.