What is osteoarthritis?

Joint wear (osteoarthritis) causes a change in the quality of cartilage. Cartilage allows bones and joints to move smoothly and absorb shocks properly. It also changes the composition of the fluid (synovia) in a joint. Osteoarthritis is most common in the hands, knees, hips, shoulders and neck. Through physiotherapy, the symptoms can be reduced so that there is no longer any hindrance in daily life and pain is reduced. 

 

Causes of osteoarthritis

There are several factors that play a significant role in the development of osteoarthritis. One major factor is your age. If you are aged 50 or over, your risk of developing osteoarthritis increases. In addition, you may also have a genetic predisposition to osteoarthritis: if someone in your family has osteoarthritis, there is a chance that you may develop it yourself. If you have a genetic predisposition, it is possible that you may develop osteoarthritis in your joints at a young age.

 

Also affecting the development of osteoarthritis:

• Overweight; (morbid) obesity
• Joint inflammation; rheumatism, arthritis or gout
• Joint disorders; hip dysplasia, leg necrosis, metabolic disorders or hormonal disorders.
• Leg length difference
• Overly flexible ligaments and muscles (hypermobility)
• Gender: research has shown that women suffer more often and faster from osteoarthritis;
• Injuries: if you have had a (serious) injury in the past, this may increase the risk of osteoarthritis;
• Occupation: if you do heavy physical work every day, this will put more strain on the joints;
• Intense sports that put heavy strain on your joints, think ball, combat or strength sports.
• Operations in history; especially of orthopaedic nature.

Because the bones in a joint rub against one another when the cartilage offers insufficient protection, deformities and bony spurs (ossification or osteogenesis) develop. This makes movement difficult and often very painful. Staying active may not sound very appealing, but with professional guidance and low-intensity exercise, the pain can actually be reduced. A lack of exercise can cause symptoms to worsen significantly. When you start moving more after a period of rest, this can be difficult and cause pain. Morning stiffness is therefore a key symptom of osteoarthritis and is very common amongst those with the condition. You may also experience crepitus. This means you hear cracking sounds when moving, for example in the knees when standing up. These cracking sounds in the joint are often accompanied by pain. Finally, you may develop bone spurs (exostoses) or experience changes in your posture. This mainly occurs in the advanced stages of osteoarthritis, rather than in the early stages. The position and shape of your bones may change as you begin to compensate in order to avoid pain. This can also alter your posture, which in turn means that your joints, muscles and tendons will be subjected to different stresses, leading to increased pain.