Arthritis

Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis. The most common form, osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) is a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or age. Other arthritis forms are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection. The major complaint by individuals who have arthritis is pain. Pain is often a constant and daily feature of the disease. The pain may be localized to the back, neck, hip, knee or feet. The pain from arthritis occurs due to inflammation that occurs around the joint, damage to the joint from disease, daily wear and tear of joint, muscles strains caused by forceful movements against stiff, painful joints and fatigue. The most important factor in treatment is to understand the disorder and find ways to overcome the obstacles which prevent physical exercise.

Chondromalacia patella is abnormal softening of the cartilage of the under the kneecap (patella). Chondromalacia patella is the most common cause of chronic knee pain. Chondromalacia patella results from degeneration of cartilage due to poor alignment of the kneecap as it slides over the lower end of the thigh bone (femur).

A knee contusion is an injury that results in bruising, swelling, and tenderness on or below the kneecap. Most contusions are relatively minor surface injuries, simply causing skin bruises due to broken blood vessels very near the surface of the knee. Symptoms of a mild knee contusion tend to go away within a week or two with simple home care. Intense pain and bruising may be indicative of a more severe muscle or bone contusion that should be evaluated by a physician. Depending on the seriousness of an injury, a person may have difficulty using his or her leg for several weeks or months.

The knees are the most easily injured part of the body. The largest and most complicated joint, the knee is used for everything from standing up, sitting, to walking, running, etc. It's a weight-bearing joint that straightens, bends, twists and rotates. All this motion increases your risk of acute or overuse knee injuries.

Acute knee injuries (including torn ligaments and torn cartilage) are often caused by twisting the knee or falling. Sports that involve running and jumping and sudden stopping and turning, such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and baseball, as well as contact sports such as football, wrestling, and hockey increase the risk of an acute knee injury.But more common than sudden knee injuries are injuries caused by overuse or overload.

Overuse knee injuries (including muscle strain, tendonitis and bursitis) may develop gradually over days or weeks. Pain is often mild and intermittent in the beginning and worsens over time. When muscles and tendons are stressed even slightly beyond their capabilities, microscopic tears occur. (Inflammation, which is part of the healing process, is what causes the pain). These tears must be given a chance to heal before subjected to the same activity to avoid overuse injury. Treat overuse injuries early to prevent chronic problems.

Knee pain is commonly caused by doing too much too soon when you haven't exercised for a long period of time - especially high-impact aerobics; walking, running or jumping on hard surfaces or uneven ground; excessive running up and down the stairs.

Knee osteoarthritis is a common cause of knee pain. The risk increases with age. Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis involving degeneration of the cartilage. Exercise is vital to maintain strength and flexibility of muscles supporting the knee, which reduces the stress on the knee joint. People with knee osteoarthritis may also need to take pain medications and/or other complementary pain treatments.

Patellofemoral pain or anterior knee pain are terms that refer to pain arising between your patella and the underlying thighbone (femur). It's common in young women, in athletes, and in older adults, who usually develop the condition as a result of arthritis of the kneecap. Patellafemoral Syndrome (Chrondromalacia Patella) causes pain and tenderness in the front of your knee. The pain increases in intensity when you sit for long periods, when you get up from a chair and when you climb stairs. You may also notice a grating or grinding sensation when you extend your knee.*

*http://www.bigkneepain.com/

Meniscus lesions often occur when the knee is stretched at the same time as rotating. The meniscus will consequently be squeezed between the thigh bone and the shin bone. The inner meniscus is more often damaged than the external. Symptoms: Pain along the joint line when applying pressure and when rotating the knee. The pain often occurs suddenly when performing certain movements, and can be accompanied by swelling of the knee. In some instances the knee can lock due to a splinter from the meniscus becoming jammed. In other cases, a small and tender outpouching of fluid can be sensed at the joint line (meniscus cyst). Prolonged discomfort will often cause the thigh muscle to diminish.

When people refer to a cartilage injury to the knee they usually mean an injury and damage to one of the menisci. You may tear a meniscus by a forceful knee movement while weight-bearing. The classic injury is for a football player to rotate the knee while the foot is still on the ground. Symptoms include: pain, swelling and loss of knee function.

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, is the most common form of arthritis and is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a "cushion" between the bones. Complications associated with osteoarthritis are the loss of cartilage, overgrowth of bone and the formation of bone spurs. This causes the bones under the cartilage to rub together, causing pain, swelling and loss of motion of the joint.  Osteoarthritis of the knee is a disease in which the knee joint gradually deteriorates in the following ways: The cartilage at ends of bones that form the knee joint begins to wear away. The thick fluid that surrounds, lubricates, and protects the knee joint called synovial fluid becomes thinner and loses its ability to cushion and lubricate the joint.

Arthroscopic surgery is the standard treatment to repair a meniscus tear. Meniscus tears typically occur in sports that require fast starts, stops, cuts and pivots. The medial meniscus is most commonly torn. During surgery the torn tissue is removed and the healthy meniscus tissue saved. Without surgical repair, the tear will likely continue with activity and fragments of the torn meniscus may damage the smooth articular cartilage of the knee, resulting in not only pain but possible arthritis. The main focus post surgery is to decrease swelling, regain full range of motion and build muslce strength.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect almost any joint in your body, including your knees. In addition to pain and swelling, you're likely to have aching and stiffness, especially when you get up in the morning or after periods of inactivity; loss of motion in your knees and eventually deformity of the knee joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects both knees at the same time. Although it's a chronic disease, it tends to vary in severity. Periods of increased disease activity called flare-ups often alternate with periods of remission.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. To date, the goal of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis is to reduce joint inflammation and provide pain relief, maximize joint function, and prevent joint destruction and deformity. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis optimally involves a combination of patient education, rest and exercise, joint protection, medications, and occasionally surgery. KNEEHAB XP when used as part of your exercise program will optimise your treatment therapy, restoring your strength and joint movement with maximum control. Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis results in better outcomes.

By definition, a knee sprain is an injury to a knee ligament. The sprain may vary in severity from a slight stretch to a complete tear of the ligament. A mild, or grade 1, sprain simply stretches the ligament and causes pain and swelling. A moderate, or grade 2, sprain partially tears the ligament and is much more disabling. A severe, or grade 3, sprain is a complete rupture and often needs surgical repair.