Bones are hard organs in the human body which are things that support movement and the human body. In addition, bones also have various other functions such as protecting the brain, heart and other organs from the risk of injury. Therefore, maintaining bone health is a very important thing to do early on.
What is osteoarthritis?
Like the foundation pillars of a building, bones are also the supports for the muscles of the body. Strong bones make the body more free to move and do activities. However, as we age, the quality of our bones decreases, and the risk of disease increases. One of the diseases is called Osteoarthritis (OA).
This joint calcification disease is a disease that usually attacks the joints and supporting bones such as knees, hips, elbows and wrists. In some cases, OA has the potential to cause loss of a protein matrix called cartilage which is strong and functions as a joint cushion, resulting in friction between bones which causes severe pain in patients.
According to the orthopedic surgeon dr. Herman Gofara, this disease also causes progressive cartilage damage in the joints. However, early diagnosis can be made independently based on symptoms that appear such as joint pain experienced by patients when they want to get up after sitting for a long time, and legs that often experience aches and stiffness, or pain in other body supporting joints such as the waist.
"Several other factors that affect this disease include genetically inherited bone density, congenital abnormalities, hormonal disorders, and weak muscles that make joints easily damaged," he said.
Herman said, the content contained in bones consists of 80% water, and the rest is collagen and proteoglycans. Unlike other body tissues, bones have no blood vessels, making it more difficult to renew/rejuvenate when damaged.
Therefore, he suggested that prevention is better than cure. One of them is by recognizing this disease further, what are its causes, and changing lifestyles to become healthier.
Causes of osteoarthritis
The results of research by orthopedic experts show, the increasing age, the greater the risk of developing OA. This is because the body weight continues to increase at a time when physical activity is decreasing. Symptoms of this disease usually begin at the age of 30 and continue to increase with age.
Research also mentions the fact that almost everyone over 70 years of age experiences these OA symptoms, with different levels of pain. When viewed from the age factor, before the age of 50, men have a greater risk of developing this disease, but when they are over 50 years, it is women who are more susceptible to OA.
Besides age, another factor to consider is weight. Obesity can increase the risk of developing OA because this condition makes the legs support a heavier body weight than they should. On the other hand, women have a greater risk of developing this disease, especially after the menopause phase.
Strenuous physical activities such as soccer and lifting weights can also trigger the appearance of OA in the body. Squatting or kneeling for long periods of time, and going up and down stairs can also be a trigger.
Tips for preventing osteoarthritis
Herman gave some tips to prevent the premature arrival of osteoarthritis. Apart from maintaining a balanced body weight and avoiding strenuous activities as previously mentioned, people can do recommended sports such as swimming or cycling because these two sports do not use body weight.
If it is still too difficult, another sport that is simpler can be an option. One of them is by walking on a flat and level place, or by doing a 30 degree leg lift exercise in a supine position, hold for a count of eight to ten seconds, then lower it and do it repeatedly. This exercise will strengthen your thigh muscles if done regularly.
Apart from adopting a healthy lifestyle by exercising, maintaining bone health can also be done by consuming foods that are highly nutritious and contain fiber and minerals. Because fiber and minerals have high benefits for bone health. It is also necessary to carry out routine checks if there are symptoms of bone disease so that bone health is maintained.
This article was written by dr. Herman Gofara, Sp. OT (K) (Orthopedic Specialist Doctor at EMC Pulomas Hospital) .