Latest news with #Osteoarthritis
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Monsoon triggering joint pain? Orthopedic and joint replacement surgeon explains what you are doing wrong
Joint pain is defined as discomfort, aches and soreness in any of the joints in the body. Since it is a common complaint, it usually does not require a hospital visit, although it is best to follow some home remedies to tackle it effectively. Beat the monsoon blues: Top 5 doctor-recommended tips to ease joint pain during rainy season.(Image by Pixabay) However, during monsoons, joint pains can increase and sometimes even interfere with the daily chores of a person. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Pramod Bhor, director - orthopedics and joint replacement surgery at Hiranandani Hospital Vashi – A Fortis Network Hospital, explained, 'This is because there is a direct correlation between monsoons and colder climates with joint pain. Due to changes in the humidity levels, atmospheric pressure and the sudden shift in the temperature and precipitation, blood pressure in the blood vessels is impacted.' He added, 'As a result of the increased blood pressure, the body must work harder to pump blood, which can result in more joint pain. In addition, monsoons and colder climates can also lead to dehydration in the body, decreasing fluid concentration and worsening joint pain. Besides joint pain, monsoon can worsen arthritis-related symptoms, especially in people above 60.' Joint pain and stiffness is rather common during monsoon(Freepik) What are the possible causes of joint pain? Understanding the root cause of joint pain is critical as it can help treat the condition effectively. According to Dr Bhor, some common causes of joint pain that can worsen in the monsoon season include: One of the most common causes of joint pain is Arthritis. In India, it is projected that there are at least seven million patients who suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), which is one of the most common forms of Arthritis. Moreover, Osteoarthritis, the second most common rheumatologic problem in the country, has a prevalence of 22 – 39 per cent in the country. Since Osteoarthritis and RA are degenerative joint diseases, they can cause inflammation, pain, and stiffness. RA and Osteoarthritis cannot be cured, so their symptoms must be tackled through medication and other forms of treatments. However, little is possible to prevent the disease once it has advanced. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause your body to attack itself. Besides damaging the organs and tissues, lupus can also cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. As lupus is a chronic condition and takes a considerable time to diagnose (as it mimics other conditions, ruling out other diseases is time-consuming), some ways to combat this condition include medicines and healthier life choices. Other conditions that can cause stiffness and pain in the affected joints include Bursitis (a condition in which the tiny, fluid-filled sacs in the body, called Bursae that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near the joint become inflamed), Gout (which is a type of Arthritis that can appear suddenly) and in rare cases Bone Cancer. What are the symptoms of joint pain? Dr Bhor answered, 'In many cases, joint pain, especially during monsoon, will not require medical attention, but there is always an exception to this rule. A person should consult a medical expert when they do not know the reason behind the joint pain and are experiencing other symptoms.' He advised to consult a doctor immediately in the following scenarios: The place around the joint is swollen, red, tender, or warm The discomfort has persisted for more than three days A fever with no other signs of the flu accompanies the ache The pain is a result of a severe injury or accident The joint seems deformed The swelling in the joint occurs suddenly or if it looks immobile The agony in the joint is extreme. Say 'goodbye' to monsoon joint pain: 5 essential tips for pain-free days (Photo by Uzma Mirza) How to treat joint pain in monsoon? Since joint pain in the monsoon is seasonal, Dr Pramod Bhor suggested that making lifestyle changes and combing home remedies with medications can help combat this issue in the long term. Some of them include the following: Aerobic exercises that are easy on joints, like walking, bicycling, swimming and water aerobics, are highly recommended. It is essential to stay physically active throughout the year to ensure that symptoms related to joint pain do not flare up during this time. Doing at least 150 minutes of strenuous aerobic weekly is highly recommended. Further, exercise for ten minutes at a time if that helps to reduce the pain and always consult a doctor before doing anything strenuous. A good diet rich in essential nutrients can go a long way in helping fight inflammation and improve symptoms related to joint pain. For starters, a diet focusing on whole foods, like fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and beans, and at the same time having minimal amounts of processed foods and saturated fat is ideal for overall health while at the same time helping manage disease activity as well. Some examples of food to add to such a diet include oily fish (Sardines, Mackerel, Salmon and fresh Tuna), dairy (milk, yoghurt and cheese), dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, collard greens), broccoli, green tea, garlic and nuts. Keep yourself warm with warm showers or baths, which can help ease joint pain. If required, dress in layers and increase the heat inside your house to prevent moisture retention, which can increase your symptoms. Consult a doctor for pain medications that can help reduce the severity of joint pain. Get sufficient sleep of at least eight hours. Get enough sleep for at least eight hours. Not getting quality good sleep can lower the threshold for pain, leading to increased joint pain and pain that was felt only in a particular part of the body becoming more widespread. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Health Line
18-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Osteoarthritis Complications
Key takeaways Osteoarthritis (OA) can lead to sleep disruption due to pain and stiffness, which can intensify pain and limit mobility. Reduced productivity and weight gain are common complications, as pain and stiffness can decrease activity levels, leading to additional health risks like diabetes and heart disease. OA can also contribute to mental health issues like anxiety and depression, impacting overall quality of life, and may result in other complications like bone death or nerve damage. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that results in joint damage. It's caused by wear and tear of cartilage, the tissue protecting the ends of your bones and joints. This exposes the nerve endings in bones and results in OA pain. OA is the most common form of arthritis. It's degenerative, getting worse with age, but can also occur following injury. Without treatment, chronic pain from OA can lead to complications and can significantly affect your quality of life. What are the symptoms of OA? Common symptoms of OA include: pain, tenderness, and stiffness in joints loss of flexibility bone spurs a grating sensation of bones rubbing together What are the risk factors of OA? Some things put you at a higher risk of getting osteoarthritis, including: Older age: Cartilage deteriorates naturally with age. Gender: Women are more likely to develop OA, though it isn't understood why. Overweight or obese: Extra weight may put more stress on joints. Joint injury: Weak joints are more susceptible to OA. · Hypermobility: Having hypermobile joints or loose ligaments can increase risk. Genetics: Some people inherit the tendency to develop OA. Bone deformities: Being born with malformed bones or cartilage can increase your risk of OA. Certain jobs: Physically demanding jobs or jobs that require repetitive stress on joints can increase your chances of developing OA. What are the complications of OA? For many people, OA is a source of chronic pain that can be exhausting and debilitating. It can also lead to problems with anxiety and depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Adults with arthritis are about 2.5 times more likely to experience a fall or injury. In 2015, 15 million U.S. adults said they had severe joint pain from arthritis. About 1 in 25 U.S. adults (ages 18 to 64) name arthritis as a cause of work limitations. In addition to causing pain, there are a number of ways in which OA can impact your life. Sleep disruption Achy, tender joints interfere with restful, restorative sleep. Not getting a full night's sleep can make your pain seem intensified. Stiffness and limited range of motion can also keep you from getting comfortable in bed. Reduced productivity Many people miss multiple days of work per year because of chronic joint pain. Arthritis can also result in a decreased ability to perform normal everyday activities such as: household chores cooking getting dressed exercise and other activities In general, function can be improved with treatment. However, some people with OA may need assistance with simple day-to-day activities. Weight gain Pain and stiffness can decrease your desire to be active. You may stop wanting to participate in activities that used to bring you joy. Arthritis may cause a decreased ability to exercise or even walk. The lack of activity doesn't only limit your enjoyment of life — it can cause weight gain. Extra weight may exacerbate OA symptoms, as well as lead to an increased risk of other complications, including: diabetes hypertension heart disease Anxiety and depression A 2010 study investigated the link between anxiety and depression and OA, finding that the pain of OA symptoms negatively affected mental health. More than 40 percent of the study's participants showed increased anxiety and depression as a result of OA symptoms. Other complications Other complications that can arise from OA include: bone death (osteonecrosis) stress fractures bleeding or infection in joints deterioration of tendons and ligaments around joints pinched nerve, in OA of the spine What are the treatment options for OA? There's no cure for OA, so treatment aims to manage symptoms and improve joint function, flexibility, and balance. This helps prevent falls which can lead to fractures. It's important to control pain while increasing mobility and joint functioning. Physical therapy can help increase mobility. Exercise is key to staying limber and maintaining your weight. But be careful not to overuse your joints and make symptoms worse. Take frequent breaks when exercising. There are many medications available to relieve OA pain, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen. Corticosteroid injections can be given directly into joints to help reduce swelling and relieve pain, and injections of viscosupplements may provide extra cushioning in joints. Depending on the severity of your OA, your doctor may suggest surgery to replace entire joints. Alternative practices can help increase mobility, reduce stress, and improve your general outlook on life. These include: tai chi yoga acupuncture water therapy such as swimming or exercising in a hot tub What's the long-term outlook for people with OA? Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition. If left untreated, it'll get worse with time. Although death from OA is rare, it's a significant cause of disability among adults. It's important to talk to your doctor if OA is impacting your quality of life. Surgery to replace joints may be an option, as well as pain medication and lifestyle changes.
News18
26-04-2025
- Health
- News18
Yoga Gets Tested For Osteoarthritis & Comes Out With Flying Colours
Last Updated: Yoga practices gradually increase the range of movement especially when practised with deep internal awareness. Like physiotherapy, Yoga helps strengthen the muscles around joints In Osteoarthritis, exercise almost always helps because it reduces pain. Among all exercises, it is Strengthening Exercises that offer the best support and are used as standard treatment for this condition. Yoga has also been claiming success in this area for a long time but it isn't widely accepted only because studies conducted so far have lacked a 'credible" evidence base. So, researchers in Australia decided to compare Yoga and Strengthening Exercises for their effectiveness in Osteoarthritis (OA). Yoga Or Strengthening Exercise? At the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia, researchers carried out a randomised clinical trial to compare Yoga with Strengthening Exercise. Fifty-eight patients were recruited in the Yoga group and 59 in strength training. All patients were in their 60s. For the first 12 weeks, there were both supervised and home sessions, and the next 12 weeks had only home sessions. The primary outcome was to assess pain at the end of 12 weeks. Here, researchers found no difference in pain between the two groups. This led to the conclusion that Yoga was at least 'non-inferior' to Strengthening Exercise. (Yoga did better at overcoming depression, though, in the same 12-week period). Week-24 Results Were The Game-Changer Yoga's many 'superior' facets were evident at week 24, when secondary outcomes were evaluated. Of 26 secondary outcomes, seven were in favour of Yoga—pain at end of week 24, stiffness and function measures according to the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) and Osteoarthritis Research Society International system, patients' global self-assessment; and a 40-meter fast walk. While seven outcomes favoured Yoga, there were none in favour of strength training. Incidentally, pain at week 24 was also better in the Yoga group, even if not statistically significant. The researchers concluded that this showed that Yoga could be considered a viable alternative, especially for the medium term. They added that: 'While our findings are promising, further research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of yoga and strengthening exercises beyond the 24-week period, providing insights into the sustainability of benefits." They were also keen on a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms. An Indian Patient's Experience Swati Damle, a 53-year-old Mumbai-based software professional, had been struggling with weight gain for some time. Nutrition-based weight-loss had resulted in a rebound. Recently, she had also developed OA. Within two weeks of stay at a Yoga therapy centre, Swati was walking comfortably, with no pain. She had also lost 2 kgs. She left the place very satisfied and attributes it to the twin-factors of yogic diet and yoga exercises. 'Diet triggered the weight loss," she says, 'but more than that, it was compassion of the Yoga teachers that really helped me." Each time she was discouraged because of her pain to do any more exercises, they would show her a way out. The selected poses for OA are low-impact and gentle. Coordinated with breathing, they ease pain in that area and bring in vital energy. In Swati's case, naturopathy packs and Ayurveda massages added to the relief. Swati continued Yoga practice at home for a month or more, but then life took over and she became irregular. Nevertheless, eight weeks even after stopping practice, she's still comfortably walking. The diet plan gave her many ideas that are sustainable and reduce food cravings. She has been able to maintain her weight. Now, however, she feels it's time to begin practising again. A Yoga Guru's Reasoning Dr Nagarathna Raghuram, Medical Director of Arogyadhama, SVYASA Bengaluru, gives interesting insights in her book `Yoga for Arthritis'. Physical Yoga Exercises Yoga practices gradually increase the range of movement especially when practised with deep internal awareness. Similar to physiotherapy, Yoga helps strengthen the muscles around joints. Yoga uses shakti-vikasaka exercises for OA, which are gentle and repetitive stretches coordinated with breathing. By definition, these are meant for developing strength. In addition, they contribute to deep relaxation, which counters muscle fatigue. OA is related to aging of the joints. With age, the rate of repair of cartilage falls behind the rate of wear-and-tear. According to Yoga, we are born with a stock of `prana', which is spent in day-to-day activities. If a person leads a disciplined life, in tune with nature and one's own bio-rhythm, the prana is programmed to last for a full life-span of 100 years. But today's fast lifestyle combined with 'hypersensitised emotional surges, and suppression" burn out prana faster. This results in the problems of aging showing up earlier—the early greying, early atherosclerosis, heart attacks in very young persons, and so on. Emotions, incidentally, demand larger energy (prana) expenditure than physical activities do. A stressful lifestyle alters the environment for gene expression. The programme in the gene that decides the rate of aging gets disturbed, and so does the rate of cell destruction and regeneration. Pranayama and meditation can help reduce this stress. Further, yogic counselling and other methods to slow down the mind can help an individual develop poise and the confidence to accept the ups and downs of life. This almost arrests the process of further ageing and can help the gene function to get back to a normal rate of cell repair in the cartilage. The author is a journalist, cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher. She can be reached at swatikamal@ News18 Lifestyle section covers health, fashion, travel, food, and wellness tips, celebrity style, travel spots, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : breathing exercises osteoarthritis yogmantra Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: April 26, 2025, 08:57 IST News lifestyle YogMantra | Yoga Gets Tested For Osteoarthritis & Comes Out With Flying Colours
