Strong quadriceps help ease the pain of knee-joint osteoarthritis (OA).
The quadricep muscles help support and stabilize the knee. Strengthening these muscles may also reduce the stiffness of knee osteoarthritis. One study found that strengthening quadriceps, located in the front of the thigh, was particularly helpful at reducing the burden of disability, dependency and cost of osteoporosis in the elderly. Physical therapy can help strengthen quadriceps muscles.
Osteoarthritis (OA) occurs when the cartilage that supports and cushions the joints of the hands, spine, hips and knees wears away, causing bones to rub against each other. This leads to debilitating pain, stiffness and reduced mobility that can make it difficult to perform activities of daily living.
An occupational therapist (OT) can recommend adjustments to furniture and fixtures, to make it easier and safer for you to get around the home and perform daily tasks without assistance. The OT may suggest moving furniture to create plenty of space to walk around, adding a non-slip carpet pad or double-sided tape to the underside of a rug to keep the edges from curling up, removing clutter from the floor and keeping lamp cords tucked away, making sure rooms and stairways are well-lit, and adding back and neck support to chairs, sofas and beds.
Occupational therapists may also recommend installing a raised toilet seat, replacing your tub with a walk-in model or with a shower stall, and adding sturdy handrails on staircases and in bathrooms.
Wearing the right shoes is important if you have osteoarthritis. Running shoes do not appear to help ease the pain or reduce the risk of osteoarthritis (OA). One study found that there was less pressure on knees and hips when running barefoot compared to running wearing running shoes. Wearing flat shoes reduces stress on your knees and is a better choice for women who have osteoarthritis. Walking around barefoot while at home will further reduce the amount of stress put on the knees.
Although it’s not a good idea to run while wearing flip-flops, walking in them is almost as good as going barefoot. Flip-flops that are lightweight with flat, flexible soles put less stress on the knees than shoes with rigid soles.
Wearing heels, even if they aren't very high, can promote joint damage and worsen osteoarthritis.
Foot orthoses, also called shoe inserts, can help correct knee adduction—movement of the knee while walking—and act as a shock absorber to take some of the stress off a knee that has been damaged by osteoarthritis (OA). There is also some evidence that orthoses may slow the progression of mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the inside of the knee and the foot. But the research is inconsistent. Some studies find that they reduce pain and stiffness, and enable people with OA to cut down on pain medication. Other studies find they provide limited, if any, benefit.
Walking shoes with heels can make your osteoarthritis worse, even if the heels aren't narrow or very high. Heels just 1.5 inches off the ground can promote joint damage to the knee and worsen osteoarthritis. The width of the heel doesn't seem to make a difference.
Walking in flat, flexible shoes or barefoot puts much less stress on the knee joint, studies have found.
When you live with the chronic pain of osteoarthritis, it is easy to get caught up in negative thoughts, such as, "I'll always be in pain" or "This pain is ruining my life." But negative thinking is counterproductive because it can lead to hopelessness that can discourage you from taking steps to improve your condition—such as exercising and losing weight.
Talk to your doctor about different treatment options that may improve both your osteoarthritis pain and your mood.
Osteoarthritis (OA) may be considered a pre-existing condition. If you change jobs or insurers and are already receiving treatment for OA, your new health insurance company may consider it a pre-existing condition. Whether you will be denied coverage or charged a higher premium depends on your health plan. Health insurance issuers and employer plans use different definitions.
However, under the Affordable Care Act, denying coverage or excluding benefits due to a pre-existing condition will no longer be allowed. For children under 19, this new protection begins this fall. For everyone else, this protection will be in place by 2014.
There are no foods that will worsen the pain of osteoarthritis (OA). In general, people with OA are encouraged to eat a healthy, low-fat diet.
Being overweight or obese puts extra pressure on the joints. For every one pound of excess weight, for example, four pounds of added pressure is put on the knees. Also, excess fat can cause inflammation in the body. Inflammation can worsen the pain of osteoarthritis. It's for this reason that people with OA are encouraged to eat healthy and stay physically active. Maintaining a healthy body weight is one way to minimize the pain of osteoarthritis.
People with osteoarthritis should eat a healthy, low-fat diet. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and physical activity can help slow the progression of osteoarthritis.
A good diet with adequate sources of the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E might help protect joint cartilage.
Foods can't cause osteoarthritis, but a poor diet can make the condition worse. A high-fat diet can cause weight gain and obesity, which trigger inflammation in the body, and can lead to joint damage and osteoarthritis. Fat also causes inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation of the joints is a leading cause of the debilitating pain that stems from osteoarthritis.
More research needs to be done to determine how dietary practices are related to osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a debilitating condition and can be difficult to cope with. You need all the help you can get. To cope with your osteoarthritis, start with a visit to your doctor to discuss treatment that’s right for you. Here are some additional things you can do to cope:
Daily management of osteoarthritis requires reducing strain on the affected joint and managing pain and inflammation. Ways to reduce strain include keeping your weight at a healthy level, using supportive devices such as a cane, brace or shoe inserts; and taking breaks throughout the day to rest the affected joint. Pain and inflammation can be managed with acupuncture or massage and applications of heating pad and ice packs on the inflamed joint. You might also try topical creams that have pain relieving medications. Finally, a doctor may also recommend over-the-counter or possibly prescription drugs to help with the pain and swelling on a daily basis.