Osteoarthritis is a form of degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage over time. While this condition may affect any joint in the body, it commonly presents with symptoms in weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and ankles. There is no known cure for osteoarthritis; however, there are therapeutic approaches to relieving the pain associated with this condition, including weight loss.
Symptoms
Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition resulting from loss of joint cartilage, which normally serves to cushion the space between weight-bearing bones. As this tissue degenerates, pain and tenderness are common symptoms associated with the inflammation. As the condition worsens over time, other symptoms including joint stiffness and loss of flexibility may present; this is your body's way of immobilizing the joint to avoid further damage. Ultimately, if allowed to progress, osteoarthritis may lead to the formation of bone spurs, or small accumulations of bone surrounding the joint, which further complicate symptoms and joint function.
Pathology
There is rarely a single cause of osteoarthritis; in most cases it is the result of a combination of factors. The aging process alone often leads to cartilage degeneration by wearing out the joint. Additionally, acute injury or stress placed on the ankle may set into motion the process of chronic inflammation, which may ultimately progress to osteoarthritis. According to the Mayo Clinic, heredity has also been shown to play a role in the severity of this chronic joint disease.
Risk Factors
In addition to aging, joint injury and other rheumatic diseases, a major risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis is obesity. The severity of osteoarthritis is related to the degree that the joint has been overworked. If you have a long history of obesity, the lifespan of your joint cartilage is significantly shortened through simple wear and tear. Many years of carrying extra weight around is not without consequence on your bones and joints. Additionally, according to the article "Obesity and Inflammation--targets for OA therapy" from the journal Current Drug Therapies, inflammatory molecules released by fat tissue may also contribute to degeneration of joint cartilage.
Weight Loss Therapy
Weight loss is an excellent approach to both relieving symptoms of osteoarthritis and preventing further disease progression. By taking some of the physical burden off of your ankle joints, the pain associated with this condition will be reduced.
Applications
It is important to talk with your doctor about the process of weight loss. If you are already experiencing symptoms of osteoarthritis, you will have to proceed cautiously with your exercise routine to avoid injury.
