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Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis of the Knee, How common is osteoarthritis of the knee?, Who is affected by osteoarthritis of the knee?, symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a degenerative joint disease that affects the cartilage in the knee joint. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the knee, making it difficult to perform daily activities. Treatment options include pain management, physical therapy, and in severe cases, surgery. Maintaining a normal body weight and performing non-weight bearing exercises regularly is important to help prevent or manage knee osteoarthritis.

What is osteoarthritis of the knee?

In osteoarthritis of the knee, the cartilage in the joint erodes, allowing the bones to rub against each other. This produces pain, stiffness, and at times swelling. Although it was known that the damage cannot be reversed, but now there are treatments which can rebuild the cartilage or treatments can slow its cartilage degeneration and mitigate the symptoms. For cases of more severe osteoarthritis, surgery may be a viable option.

How common is osteoarthritis of the knee?

Osteoarthritis of the knee is exceptionally usual. About 46% of individuals will suffer from osteoarthritis during their life spans.

Who is affected by osteoarthritis of the knee?

Females are at a higher risk than males to create osteoarthritis of the knee. The majority of individuals experience this condition after the age of 40. However, other aspects, such as injury, heavy weight and heredity, can lead to it happening sooner.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What causes osteoarthritis of the knee?

Osteoarthritis of the knee is caused by the natural wear and tear of the knee joint over time due to ageing, repeated stress on the joint, or injury. Your cartilage is like your car’s shock absorber, protecting your car from bumps and jolts. Drive on lots of rough roads, and your shocks wear out fast. Drive on easy streets, and your shocks last longer. You can wear out or damage your knee joint cartilage if:

• You are overweight. If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 or more, you are multiple times more likely to create osteoarthritis in your knee than somebody with a lower BMI.
• You damage your knee or have an old knee injury.
• You commonly put pressure on your knee at work or playing sports.
• You acquired a propensity to create osteoarthritis of the knee.
• You have bowed bones or joints, for example, having knock knees or bow legs

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee?

Pain is the most frequent indication of osteoarthritis in the knee. Your knee may ache when you move it or even while sitting quietly. Other manifestations incorporate:
• Your knee appears to be tight, particularly when you first stand or after you have been sitting for an extended time.
• Your knee appears swollen or seems puffy.
• When you move your knee, you hear a popping or grinding sound.
• Your knee feels unsteady as if it could give way or “give out”.
• Your knee may become blocked or appear to be stuck.
Osteoarthritis of the Knee, How common is osteoarthritis of the knee?, Who is affected by osteoarthritis of the knee?, symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee

DIAGNOSIS

How is osteoarthritis of the knee diagnosed?

Your medical services supplier will do a physical assessment and inquire as to your clinical history. The physical examination may incorporate checks to decide the following:

• If your knee joint region is red or sore.
• If you have an indication of injury to your knee.
• The degree to which you can move your knee; is called your scope of movement.
• If your knee feels ‘unstable’, which could mean your joint is not secure.
• How you walk, on the off chance that you have a gait issue that influences your knee; a gait issue is the point at which you don’t walk as you would regularly.

TESTS

What tests do healthcare providers use to diagnose this condition?
When treating a medical condition, healthcare providers often explore non-surgical options first. Like one can correct the deformity of knee if one is suffering from bow legs or knock knees or one may opt for injections or other non-invasive treatments. However, in some cases, surgery may be recommended as a last resort.

MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

How do you treat osteoarthritis of the knee?
Healing may comprise non-surgical techniques, infusions, and medical procedures. As a rule, healthcare providers attempt non-surgical treatments before endorsing medical procedures.
Non-surgical treatments include:
• Taking painkillers.
• Doing physical therapy.
• Keeping a good weight.
• Wearing knee support.
• Utilizing orthotics, for example, insoles or exceptional shoes.
• Cortisone (steroid) infusions.
• Viscosupplementation.
• Correction of knee deformity.
Surgical treatments include:
• Cartilage transplant.
Sound cartilage is utilized to fill a crevice in your cartilage.
• Knee osteotomy.
• Partial knee replacement.
• Total knee replacement.
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