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.

People with Osteoarthritis in a major joint, such as the knee, often experience some degree of instability. For example, when walking, the knee may buckle or give way. Such joint instability can cause pain and discomfort. Even worse, it can increase the rate that cartilage breaks down in the affected joint.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that can originate from a number of causes - injuries, rheumatism, genetic predisposition and more. Yet, the result is the same. Cartilage in the knee joint wears away, and without the body's natural cushioning, patients experience pain - often chronic - which restricts their mobility. OA braces relieve pain by redistributing the weight load on the affected compartment of the joint. Braces shift the weight away from the diseased compartment of the joint to the unaffected compartment. The shifting and sharing of the weight load helps to correct joint alignment in cases of varus or valgus deformities. Braces designed to redistribute load and correct joint alignment are particularly beneficial for people with OA in only one compartment of the knee.

Oedema (swelling) is the build-up of fluid in the soft tissue surrounding the joint and may occur in conjunction with joint pain. Swelling can result from acute injury, trauma to a joint, post surgery or from conditions such as arthritis. Management of oedema can be important in improving function and joint range of motion.

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.

The pain of osteoarthritis typically begins gradually and progresses slowly over many years. This pain worsens during activity and gets better during rest. As the condition worsens, pain can occur even when the joint is at rest. This pain is often described as aching, stiffness, and loss of mobility and can increase in certain weather conditions. Some experience muscle spasm, contractions in the tendons and OA can also cause a cracking-like noise in the knee when moved. (crepitus)

The condition in which the blood supply to certain areas of the body is not sufficient to meet the metabolic needs is know as poor circulation. Various disorders can lead to poor circulation either generally or in a particular area. It can lead to cyanosis, pallor and other symptoms. It can cause discomfort and reduce the healing effectiveness in the affected area.

Parts of the body may swell as a result of an injury, infection or disease. Swelling can also occur if the body is not circulating fluid properly. Generalised swelling from fluid retention is called edema. Lymph nodes may swell in response to an infection.

Arthritis causes the body to produce extra fluid in the knee joint. The amount of fluid tends to fluctuate over time. Patients with knee arthritis often notice the affected knee is larger than the other. The amount of fluid often corresponds with the amount of activity the patient has been doing--more significant activities cause more swelling.