Why Nutrition is Important for Osteoarthritis Symptoms While physical therapy and medications are important for treating and managing osteoarthritis , the right diet is also needed. This is because certain foods will feed your muscles and bones and keep them strong, so that they can better support your joints and decrease their continued wear and tear. This can also mean less pain and trauma when you move the joints; in turn, they can rest and heal more easily. In addition keeping a healthy diet can aid in weight loss goals or maintenance; a healthy weight will put less stress on your joints. Foods can help to add moisture and hydration to your system, which will keep those stiff and painful joints supple. Other foods have anti-inflammatory properties, to help tone down that inflammation and soreness around the joints. Because blood brings with it healing oxygen and helpful vitamins, trace minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients, you want to encourage healthy blood circulation when you have osteoarthritis. Certain foods help to feed and nourish your blood cells and also help your body to produce new red blood cells. Foods that build your immune system will also help your body to stay healthier overall so that your muscles and joints won’t become weakened because of not being rebuilt and repaired as they should.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. OA is a chronic disease characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone. Nearly 15% of the world’s population suffers from this disease. It is most common among joints in the lower extremities such as the knees and hip. The chances of a person developing OA in their lifetime is 40-47%. This risk is even higher in obese populations and athletes. Contrary to common belief, OA is the results of a variety of factors including genetic, metabolic, biomechanical and biochemical factors. OA can occur in virtually any joint. Approximately 7% and 19% of adults with OA experience the disease in their hands or knees. There is a higher prevalence of OA in in women. Pathology of Osteoarthritis OA affects three major components of the joint: the articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and the synovial membrane.  Each of these structures contribute to the integrity of the joint. Articular Cartilage Pathology The articular cartilage covers the ends of the bones where they meet. This cartilage consists of a matrix of proteins and molecules that support the tissue. The matrix components are synthesized and secreted by cells called chondrocytes, which are also embedded in the matrix.

Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis has several risk factors that can be broken down into three categories: modifiable local risk factors, modifiable systemic risk factors, and non-modifiable systemic risk factors. Modifiable local risk factors are factors that occur near the site of OA that can be altered. These include muscle strength, physical activity, joint injury, joint alignment and leg length in equitability. Modifiable systemic risk factors occur on a larger scale and can also be modified such as obesity and diet. Non-modifiable system risk factors are factors that influence OA risk but cannot be changed. These include age, sex, genetics, and ethnicity. 1) Age One of the greatest risk factors is age, which makes sense as years of wear on the bones leads to the breakdown of joint integrity. OA diagnosis increases in women especially between the ages of 60 and 64. This increase in risk with age is thought to be due to a variety of age-related changes such as a reduced capacity for joint tissue to adjust to biomechanical challenges, increased bone turnover, and accumulation of reactive oxygen that can damage articular tissue (tissue that covers the ends of the bones where they meet). 2) Gender Women are at a greater risk for OA and typically experience more severe forms of the disease.

Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) is typically caught during annual physical exams. During the exam, physicians inspect the joints for swelling, sensitivity, and range of motion. If OA is expected, additional medical tests will be performed. X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be performed to visualize changes in the joints. While an X-ray cannot image cartilage it can reveal narrow spaces between joint bones and bone spurs. MRIs can directly image cartilage. MRI is not typically used for diagnosis of OA, but may be used for more intricate cases. Blood tests can be used to rule out other possible forms of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis. Joint fluid can also be examined for elevated levels of inflammation and to rule out other causes of pain such as infections. Treatment of Osteoarthritis Most treatments for OA aim at relieving symptoms rather than reversing the disease. Painkillers such as acetaminophen are prescribed to reduce the pain. In mild to moderate cases nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed to treat inflammation and pain. While effective at reducing pain, long-term use is associated with severe side effects such as liver and kidney damage, gastric bleeding and cardiovascular complications. In more severe cases, opioids and narcotics are used to relieve the pain.