| When one experiences arthritis, knee pain is one of | | | | risk of developing arthritis becomes higher. |
| the most common symptoms there is. It is often | | | | 4. Overuse of the Joints - Repetitive use of the |
| referred to as osteoarthritis. | | | | joints due to excessive physical activities can cause |
| If an individual has arthritis, knee pain can often be | | | | strain on the joints after a period of time. |
| very uncomfortable and can often lead to soreness | | | | Individuals who develop osteoarthritis usually feel |
| or swelling. This is because the cartilage in the knee | | | | common symptoms which include pain and discomfort |
| has been damaged. This cartilage is the one that | | | | in the joint, inflammation of the joint, limited |
| covers the bone and protects it if it comes in | | | | movement, stiffness or numbness, tingling sensations, |
| contact with other surfaces. The protective cartilage | | | | and sometimes even a grinding sound when the joint |
| also serves as a shock absorber. When this cartilage | | | | is moved. People who develop osteoarthritis of the |
| wears and tears and eventually degenerates, that is | | | | knee are usually those who are above 50 years of |
| when the individual experiences osteoarthritis or | | | | age, and are mostly female. |
| degenerative joint disease. As the condition worsens, | | | | It is also common among those who are active in |
| the cartilage that protects the joints becomes thinner | | | | sports. The symptoms of osteoarthritis usually |
| and thinner. When this happens, it can be very painful | | | | develop or progress at different paces over the |
| and movement in the joint becomes very limited. | | | | years, depending on the individual's condition. |
| What causes osteoarthritis anyway? The causes | | | | To have your condition checked on whether you do |
| exactly have not yet been proven, but there have | | | | have osteoarthritis in the knee, the physician usually |
| been some factors that are considered to be | | | | will run some tests to assess what kind of pain you |
| common in people who develop arthritis. These | | | | are feeling and how severe the pain is. He or she will |
| factors include the following: | | | | then take an X-ray or an MRI scans depending on |
| 1. Weight - When one has arthritis, knee pain is very | | | | the patient's condition. In some cases, blood samples |
| common because of the weight carried by the joints | | | | may be needed so that they will be able to check |
| in the knee. The heavier the weight, the faster | | | | whether other types of arthritis are involved. |
| progression of the condition. | | | | There are many types of treatments available to |
| 2. Heredity - Arthritis has also been studied to run in | | | | help cure osteoarthritis in the knee. These |
| the family because of a defective gene found in the | | | | treatments include weight loss, knee supports such |
| body which is responsible for the production of the | | | | as canes, crutches, or braces, getting involved in an |
| cartilages. | | | | exercise program, and in some cases surgical knee |
| 3. Previous Traumas or Injuries - If an individual has | | | | replacement. In all cases, exercise is very important in |
| experienced previous injuries in the knee area, the | | | | slowing down the progression of the disease. |