The knee is a joint between the thigh and the shin, that is, the connection between the thigh and the lower leg, where flexion, extension, and rotational movement are possible, and weight transmission is also performed.
(P(Picture from Unsplash)
Arthritis, commonly referred to as arthritis, is the occurrence of abnormalities in cartilage and synovial membranes that absorb shock between bones, resulting in symptoms such as pain and edema. Pain and edema are some kind of inflammatory symptoms, and inflammation is a natural reaction that occurs to recover when there is damage to our body.
The types of knee arthritis can be largely divided into two types depending on the incidence factors. First, there are primary or idiopathic arthritis caused by the accumulation of fine shocks to the joint cartilage for a long time without any special organic factors, and secondly secondary or secondary arthritis caused by trauma, deformity, and other diseases affecting the joint cartilage.
Knee arthritis can occur to anyone regardless of age because it is defined as having symptoms of pain and edema due to abnormalities in knee joint cartilage and synovial membranes.
The exact cause of degenerative arthritis, the most common knee arthritis, and primary arthritis, has not yet been clearly identified. Age, gender, genetic factors, and weight are considered important factors.
In general, diseases occur in old age and changes related to aging increase the risk of developing degenerative arthritis, but as there are other factors, aging cannot be the only cause.
Degenerative damage to joints occurs in both men and women, but arthritis that causes symptoms is more common in women, which is believed to be the effect of hormones.
According to data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, 2.97 million patients were treated for knee arthritis in 2019, accounting for 30% of male patients and 70% of female patients. High-risk groups for arthritis include elderly women, those who weigh a lot, those who have injured their knees in their youth, and those who have autoimmune diseases related to rheumatoid arthritis.
As you get older, there are concerns about chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes among health concerns, but one of the most frightening things is that you are sick and unable to work.
In particular, if your knee hurts, it is a big problem that you cannot exercise and leisure life properly. Knee pain can worsen high blood pressure and diabetes due to poor exercise, and even depression can occur due to reduced activity and pain.
It is necessary to avoid actions that strain your knees in your daily life. They include climbing up and down stairs, hiking, lifting heavy things, and crouching and working.
You should be careful not to gain weight. Walking flat, exercising in the water, and riding an indoor bicycle are recommended, and exercise to strengthen the femoral quadriceps is also helpful in improving or preventing symptoms.
Most patients receive non-surgical treatment first unless the symptoms are particularly severe. At this time, the goal of treatment is to reduce the patient's pain to restore the range and function of joint motion, slow the progression of arthritis, and lead a comfortable daily life.
Non-surgical treatments include physical therapy and medication. Specifically, there are oral drugs and patches such as acetaminophen-based drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and painkillers.
These drugs should take into account the history of side effects of misuse, stomach ulcers, and asthma, so you should choose the appropriate drug after consulting a specialist.
In addition, intra-articular injection therapy can be considered. Hyaluronic acid, known as the so-called cartilage injection, is known to help improve some symptoms. In addition, steroids, known as "bone injections," have a very high anti-inflammatory effect, which is temporarily effective in relieving pain and edema, but if they are repeatedly hit, they should be refrained from causing cartilage weakness and infection.
Physical therapy such as heat, infrared, and ultrasound therapy can help improve joint stiffness, and strengthening muscles around the joint through exercise therapy is also helpful.
Patients with continuous symptoms even though conservative treatment methods have been implemented should consider surgical treatment. There are various methods for surgical treatment of degenerative arthritis, and an appropriate treatment should be selected for the patient in consideration of the patient's symptoms, health status, and degree of activity.
Arthroscopic surgery is performed in case of local cartilage damage and semi-permanent cartilage damage. This applies to patients who are relatively young and have normal lower limb alignment with only a part of their joints damaged. On the other hand, in patients with poor lower extremity alignment such as "O-shaped" legs, proximal tibial osteotomy is considered if only the inside of the knee is damaged and the outside is healthy.
It is an operation that moves the area under the weight to the outside where arthritis is not severe. Artificial joint replacement is recommended for joints that have been severely worn and deformed.
Surgical replacement of damaged joints with artificial joint implants made of medical metal and plastic, single-compartment replacement or pre-replacement is performed depending on the range of damaged joints.
In the era of living at 100, as an aging society became, how to improve the quality of life as an elderly person became very important. It is recommended to exercise at least three times a week to sweat for more than 30 minutes, and if knee pain persists, it is necessary to visit a hospital and see a specialist.
Writer: youngjun Kim
Comments