Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) is a condition in which the cartilage covering the ends of bones wears away over time, leading to friction between the ends of bones, causing pain, swelling, stiffness and limited mobility.
The disease mainly occurs in: Knee joints, hip joints, lumbar or cervical spine, fingers, toes.
Impacts of arthritis in the elderly
Includes 4 basic impacts as follows:
- Arthritis can affect an individual’s ability to perform basic activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and controlling mobility. Typically, people with osteoarthritis have difficulty getting out of a chair, getting in and out of bed, walking and sometimes even standing up.
- Pain has a significant negative impact on daily life and is a major complaint that leads patients to physical therapy. Many people with osteoarthritis report that the pain, fatigue, deformity, and limited mobility of the disease lead to social isolation, which can affect relationships. Joint deformities that can occur due to osteoarthritis often require the use of braces or devices such as canes or walkers, which can cause a loss of confidence and self-esteem and can make some people feel embarrassed.
- Arthritis can also limit a person’s ability to walk or the time it takes to participate in activities such as traveling, visiting museums, and simply getting around in their community. People with arthritis often feel unsteady and are at higher risk of injury from events such as falls.
- And finally, osteoarthritis is associated with an increased risk of comorbidities, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
What is the most effective treatment for osteoarthritis?
Physical therapy and exercise are the most important and effective treatments for osteoarthritis.
Many people who come to physical therapy want to improve their ability to participate in activities with family and friends. They often want to improve their walking ability so they can attend family weddings or travel.
Low-impact exercises, such as walking, cycling, swimming and other water activities, help motivate people and keep them moving. Avoid running, jogging, jumping rope, high-impact aerobics or any other exercise where both feet leave the ground at the same time.
Here are the best exercises for osteoarthritis:
1. For knee pain
Sit down and straighten your knee, holding it by squeezing your thigh muscles for 10 seconds.
Sit down and bend your knee as far as you can under a chair and hold it for 10 seconds, repeat 10 times.
2. For hip pain
Stand on a sturdy object (chair or table) and move in place, lifting your leg as high as possible and switching legs.
Stand on a sturdy object and swing your leg out to the side while keeping your knee straight, repeat 10 times with each leg.
3. To strengthen your ankles
Hold onto a support and lift your heel as high as possible. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times.
4. To strengthen and stretch your legs
Stand facing a wall. Place your hands on the wall with one foot behind you keeping your heel on the ground until you feel a stretch in your calf muscle, hold for 10 seconds.
5. For upper body pain
Shoulder rolls help relieve upper body discomfort. Roll your shoulders back and squeeze your shoulder blades together, repeat 10 times.
Stand slightly bent forward. Drop your hands and arms to the floor and rotate your arms in gentle circles called a pendulum, rotate 10 times.
