'LESS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEADS TO ARTHRITIS AMONG YOUTH

'LESS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEADS TO 

ARTHRITIS AMONG YOUTH

The modern lifestyle had changed the work culture of youngsters, who have to sit for hours with minimum physical activities. Cases of pain in spine or knee have become a routine problem.On visiting the doctor, they are told that these are the initial symptoms of arthritis, which is expanding its grip even among the youngsters.On occasion of World Arthritis Day, (October 12), TOI talked to noted orthopedic surgeons, who explained various facets of this agonizing disease. An expert said that motion is life and life is motion and as such joints are of utmost important structure of human body for mobility.These mobile joints consist of bearing surfaces of bone and are covered with firm slippery articular cartilage and slide on each other in a narrow cavity containing lubricant synovial fluid. Arthritis destroys this delicate and complex structure. Starting from some part of the joint cartilage membrane, it gradually spreads and engulfs whole of the joint. There are several arthritic diseases which affect the human joints, including osteoarthritis  (occurs after the age of 40) in which bones rub against each other causing pain) and  rheumatoid arthritis (occurs at any stage of life) which destroys the ligaments and tendons that join the bones and muscles. These diseases affect the joints of fingers, wrists, hips, knees and feet. Gout (caused by an excess of uric acid that accumulates in the system) forms crystals that are caught in the spaces between the joints and leads to inflammation and irritation.

Orthopaedic expert, Dr K D Tripathi, said that prevention is always better than cure. Young people should protect their bones through vitamin and mineral rich diet, daily exercises and proper conditioning of joint and early medical intervention to minimise arthritis. "Treatment of arthritis in elderly people is well established in the form of sacrificing natural joint and replacing them by artificial joints. These artificial joints have limited years of life and moreover arthritic joints in young patients cannot be replaced because of their high demands and limited year of life of artificial joints," he said.To address this problem, the joint care providers have recently encountered joint preservation surgery to save and protect natural joints through the advanced surgeries of the joint.The doctor said that the word 'arthritis' means 'inflammation of joints.' It comes from two Greek words, 'athron' meaning joints and 'itis' meaning inflammation. In the early stages, the entire body is usually involved and one or two joints may become completely deformed, leaving the patient handicapped and somewhat weakened. "It is a condition in which inflammation results in pain in the joints, caused by wearing of the cartilage that covers and acts as a cushion inside joints. As the bone surface become less protected by cartilage, the patient experiences pain upon weight bearing, including walking and standing," he said.

Talking of symptoms of arthritis, deputy chief medical officer Vivek Srivastava, a noted orthopedic surgeon, said: "These symptoms include pain and limited function of joints. Inflammation of the joints from arthritis is characterised by joint stiffness, swelling, redness, and warmth. He further said that symptoms in some patients with certain forms of arthritis can also include fever, gland swelling (swollen lymph nodes), weight loss, fatigue, feeling unwell and even symptoms from abnormalities of organs such as the lungs, heart  or kidneys."Dr AP Singh of Beli Hospital said that simple exercises like walking, yoga, warm water exercise, cycling, jogging and running are best to prevent arthritis. Walking can be an excellent exercise as it helps build strength and maintain joint flexibility, aids in bone health and reduces the risk. Similarly, Yoga can also provide pain relief, relax stiff muscles and ease sore joints. With controlled movements, pressures, stretches and deep breathing relaxation, yoga can improve range of motion."But one must be cautious when disease activity is flaring and avoid excess torque or pressure on the joints," he suggested. Cycling, both indoor and outdoor, may provide a good low impact exercise option as cycling equipment can be adjusted and adapted for many physical limitations.

Prof. John Kurakar