Osteoarthritis (OA) is also referred to as degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis. OA is one of the most common long-lasting disorders for the joints. It affects almost 27 million Americans. Since it is a joints disease it affects any kind of joints in the body.
OA is associated with the breakdown of cartilage which mostly occurs on the weight-bearing joints like the spine, hips, knees, and ankles. The degenerative disease can also affect the neck, fingers, and thumb.
The risk of getting the disease increases as you get older because your joints have been subjected to a lot of wear and tear. Most people at the age of 60 and above have OA.
Symptoms
Physical therapists in Houston, TX say the following are the symptoms of OA:
- The joints begin aching and feel sore especially during movement.
- Stiffness and pain after overuse or inactivity of the joint after a long time.
- Tenderness on some joints as well as swelling.
- Bony enlargements in the middle or at the end of the joints of fingers. These can either be painful or not.
- Loss of flexibility in the affected joint
Causes of Osteoarthritis
Physical therapists at Absolute Physical Therapy understand that several factors may increase the risk of getting osteoarthritis. This can be due to hereditary factors, obesity, overuse of certain joints or injury.
Treatment
Treatment for osteoarthritis normally occurs through physical therapy.
Since OA causes the patient to lose flexibility and range of movement in the joint, physical therapy at Absolute Physical Therapy work towards reducing stress on the affected joints. The objective is to reduce pain as well as improve the function of the affected joint.
A physical therapist in Houston, TX would attest to the fact that Absolute Physical Therapy is one of the best facilities in the region for treating OA.
Reference Links
https://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/arthritis-facts#1
https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/osteoarthritis/what-is-osteoarthritis.php