Osteoarthritis

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a slowly progressive, not primarily inflammatory degenerative disease (osteoarthritis) of the knee joint. Joint wear and tear occurs when the cartilage that acts as a buffer between the bones breaks down, leading to pain in the joint structures. Pain is usually felt when bending the knee, when climbing stairs and also after long periods sitting or lying down. Pain in the morning is a common complaint in the early stages of knee joint osteoarthritis. The joints feel stiff. The pain usually subsides after the joint has been able to warm up. A worn joint can easily become inflamed. Osteoarthritis that was initially non-inflammatory therefore becomes activated osteoarthritis with inflammatory phases. The aim is to keep the inflammatory phases as brief as possible by using medication.

Types of knee osteoarthritis

Three bones come together in the knee joint:

• The thigh bone (femur)
• The kneecap (patella)
• The shinbone (tibia)

Joint wear and tear always occurs between the colliding bone surfaces, each of which is covered with a smooth layer of cartilage. The joint between the thigh bone and the shinbone consists of two joint sections: the inner (medial) and outer (lateral) parts. This is why physicians speak of different compartments in the knee.

• Medial knee osteoarthritis: If the inner part of the knee joint is affected by wear and tear, this is medial osteoarthritis.
• Lateral knee osteoarthritis: If the knee osteoarthritis is located in the outer area of the knee, this is lateral osteoarthritis..

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in adults worldwide. In Germany, knee ais is the most common, followed by hip joint osteoarthritis.1,2 Age is a strong risk factor in the development of osteoarthritis. More than half of women and a third of men aged 60 are affected – and these figures are increasing1.

Causes of knee osteoarthritis

There is often no clear or concrete cause for knee joint arthrosis: In most cases, it is “primary osteoarthritis” – caused by age-related degradation of the cartilage. In addition, congenital misalignments (bow-legged or knocked-kneed) and certain illnesses or injuries can result in joint wear and tear. These are referred to as “secondary osteoarthritis”.

Symptoms and signs of knee osteoarthritis

Typical signs of osteoarthritis in the knee joint are:

• • Knee pain when climbing stairs and when walking on uneven ground.
  • Pain is particularly bad when starting to move after long periods of rest and then slowly subsides only to recur after prolonged periods of stress.
  • Symptoms increase after carrying heavy loads.
  • In the course, there may be a noticeable swelling.
  • In the advanced stages, crunching and crackling noises can be heard when the knee is moved.
  • The joint is particularly sensitive in damp and cold weather conditions.

The more advanced the osteoarthritis, the more pronounced the symptoms: The pain becomes more frequent and often occurs even when at rest. Knee mobility continues to decrease1.

Osteoarthritis stages: grades of joint wear and tear

There are four grades of severity for osteoarthritis, depending on the degree of wear to the knee joint:

Risk factors for osteoarthritis

How can I prevent osteoarthritis?

Years of being overweight can damage a person’s joints. This significantly increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis. This is because: The knee joints must bear large loads, which means they wear out more quickly. Being overweight starts with a BMI (body mass index) of 25. A BMI of over 30 is when someone is classified as being severely overweight or obese. People with osteoarthritis are therefore often advised to lose weight.

Self-management – how to improve your quality of life

With self-management, osteoarthrtis patients can do a great deal to reduce pain and improve treatment outcomes: Be active in dealing with the disease. For example, eat a healthy diet, lose weight sustainably and take regular physical activity.

Nutrition for osteoarthritis

Nutrition plays a significant role in the development of arthrosis. Nutritional changes cannot cure athrosis but can have beneficial effects. That is why the scientific focus is on the connection between arthrosis and nutrition.

Pay attention to your diet and weight: Study on weight and osteoarthritis

An Australian study examined the connection between being overweight and developing osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients of a healthy weight only developed osteoarthritis at an older age. Young, healthy but overweight patients saw a decrease in the cartilage at a younger age¹.

Sport and exercise with osteoarthritis

What really helps? Does exercise help or is it better to rest? One thing is for sure: Sport and exercise are invaluable both for those already with gonarthrosis and those looking to prevent it! When in pain, people often prefer to rest and try to move the knee as little as possible. This is precisely the wrong thing to do. Lack of exercise is one of the main risk factors for arthrosis.

Targeted training of the arthrotic joints strengthens the muscles and improves coordination. Movement produces more synovial fluid, which leads to less abrasion.

Which sports are suitable for those with osteoarthritis?

Find the sporting activity you like best. Avoid sports-related strain. If you are unsure of whether you can do a specific sport, ask your doctor for advice.

Therapeutic measures – what helps in osteoarthritis?

Although osteoathritis is incurable, numerous treatment options can relieve pain and make everyday life easier.

Conservative therapy

Exercises to accompany therapy for knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis) at home

Specialised gymnastics strengthens the muscles and makes the joints more flexible in cases of osteoarthritis of the knee. Try out our strengthening exercises in the comfort of your own home.  

Exercises for knee osteoarthritis

Surgical measures

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