According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is the most common joint disorder and is present in the majority of people by age 65. While osteoarthritis is not symptomatic in everyone, early recognition of this disease may enable you to institute nutritional modifications and other therapies promptly and to decrease your pain and stiffness.
Identification
Osteoarthritis is the result of cartilage destruction. Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the affected joint that worsens with activity. The most common joints to be affected are the knee, hip, hand or spine. While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, exercise, physical therapy, diet, pain medications and joint replacement surgery are all potential modalities to improve your symptoms.
Weight Loss
According to the AAFP, osteoarthritis is associated with obesity. Excess weight places additional pressure on your joints and can increase symptoms of pain. A heart-healthy diet is the best way to lose weight and keep the pounds off. Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grain foods and low-fat dairy while limiting red meat and processed foods helps to limit fat intake and keep your caloric intake down. A slow weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week at most is advised.
Nutritional Supplements
Glucosamine, an amino sugar used in the synthesis of synovial fluid and ligaments in joints, can reduce inflammation and stimulate the rebuilding of joint cartilage. When used with pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, glucosamine reduces pain and improves function in people with osteoarthritis. Other supplements, such as chondroitin, S-adenosylmethionine and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) are often utilized but have not been shown to improve osteoarthritis symptoms.
Benefits
Osteoarthritis symptoms typically worsen over time, but nutritional modifications may reduce pain, tenderness and stiffness. They may also reduce the loss of flexibility in the affected joints that typically occurs over time. Left untreated, osteoarthritis can reduce your ability to exercise and to work and thus may reduce your quality of life dramatically.
Considerations
If your symptoms are not controlled with nutritional modifications alone, your physician may suggest other treatments. Medications such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen can reduce pain and inflammation. An injection of a potent anti-inflammatory known as a steroid can reduce inflammation locally and control symptoms. Exercise or physical therapy may be helpful to increase your range of motion and flexibility as well as to strengthen the muscles surrounding the affected joint.
