Knee osteoarthritis is a common joint problem usually seen among older people. It affects the patients’ daily lives as walking, standing, or sitting for a longer period becomes difficult due to stiffness in joints.
Learn the causes, symptoms, and treatments of knee osteoarthritis in this article to treat and manage the condition properly.
What Is Knee Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a joint condition where the friction between the joints leads to pain, inflammation, and stiffness. The cartilage at the end of the bones, which works as a protective tissue, breaks down over time, creating friction. Knee osteoarthritis in elderly (โรค ข้อ เข่า เสื่อม ใน ผู้ สูงอายุ, which is the term in Thai) people is common around the world.
What Causes Knee Arthritis?
The primary cause of knee arthritis is constant wear and tear of the joints. However, other reasons can also lead to knee osteoarthritis. Those are:
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Obesity
Obesity puts pressure on your knees and hips, causing osteoarthritis over time.
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Poor Posture
Poor posture is another reason that can put added pressure on your hip and knee joints, leading to knee osteoarthritis.
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Genetics
Genetics plays a huge role in causing arthritis of any kind. If you have someone in your family with a similar joint condition, you will likely be a victim as well.
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Bone Deformities
In-born bone deformities or malformed joints in people can cause knee osteoarthritis in the elderly.
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Past Injuries
A knee injury in the past can increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis.
What Are The Common Symptoms?
The symptoms of knee osteoarthritis develop slowly; hence learning the signs early can help a patient in the long run. Here are the five most common symptoms:
Pain while walking and stiffness in the affected area are knee osteoarthritis’s first symptoms.
- You may experience s
- Welling and tenderness in the joints.
- Loss of flexibility in the joints
- You may develop bone spurs or extra bits of bone in the affected area.
What Are The Treatments?
There are different treatment and prevention methods for knee osteoarthritis in elderly.
The treatments include oral and topical pain relievers, ibuprofen, and more. Physical therapy is highly beneficial in treating osteoarthritis, so several doctors recommend ultrasound therapy and high-power laser therapy. There are also surgical methods such as laparoscopy for osteoarthritis treatment.
