Osteoarthritis: 4 false myths about the disease

Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints, which, despite its high prevalence. Discover the 4 false myths that surround a disease that, at the outset, has no age limit. Knowing to prevented, and for this we must also know the main risk factors of osteoarthritis.

Pain and stiffness are two of the most common symptoms of the chronic joint diseases more frequent, the osteoarthritis, which can affect any joint (osteoarthritis of the knee, neck, hands, hip …). Osteoarthritis is the result of progressive wear of the joint (in particular, the cartilage).

However, its high prevalence has not resulted in a better understanding of the risk factors, contraindications, and keys to prevention. As with other diseases, it is necessary to remove errors or false beliefs and create confusion, affect their prevention and treatment. In the case of osteoarthritis, what are they?

• Osteoarthritis is not exclusively a disease of old age, on the contrary, can occur much earlier. In fact, more than the aging itself, there are other factors that make us more vulnerable to suffering from osteoarthritis, such as the quality of the tissue, the effort to which we proposing to the joints and the time that we have been doing it.
• The power does not directly influence osteoarthritis, but yes, it is important to watch what we eat and try to lead a normal calorie diet, that is, a healthy diet and adjusted to our energy needs to prevent weight gain. Do not forget that in overweight sedentary lifestyle also influences.
• The temperature and the change of season does not necessarily affect the osteoarthritis. It can affect the perception of pain due to changes in atmospheric pressure.
• Contrary to what we might think, yes there are effective treatments for osteoarthritis, both to relieve symptoms and to slow down its evolution. One of the misconceptions is to consider osteoarthritis a chronic pathology and evolves with age, with no treatment can avoid it. This is not true, and indeed we have a therapeutic arsenal.

Osteoarthritis contraindications

Excess rest-including sedentary, excess weight and stress on joints are three of the contraindications of osteoarthritis. Controlling these three factors not only helps prevent osteoarthritis, but to improve treatment-check everyday life habits-in diagnosis.

Although we think otherwise, we do a lot for our joints. The first tip: keep joints lubricated, strengthening the structures that help them work. Similarly, it is important to:

• Lose weight: If you have earned a few extra kilos, it increase the stress on joints, especially of the lower extremities.
• Postural hygiene: Improper or inadequate postures-for example, to spend too many hours at the PC – affect, and much, joints.
• Avoid overloading of joints, and pay attention to back problems such as scoliosis or foot.
• Practicing exercise.
• Use elements of discharge if it is necessary to reduce the load on the joint (cane, corsets, templates …).