Obesity and Osteoarthritis

When cartilage becomes worn, exposed bones can rub together and the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis may appear.Symptoms include morning stiffness, increased pain when using the afflicted joint, loss of joint function, local tenderness, swelling of the joint. Bone cracking can sometimes be heard on movement
Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, including those throughout the spine. It is the form of joint disease and more pronounced in the case of elderly persons. Wear and tear of joints, due to ageing leads to osteoarthritis. But this is not the single reason for the disease. There are other contributing reasons such as genetic factors, lack of nutrition and vitamins, ( Vitamin A, C and E have the pootential to protect against tissue damage. Vitamin D plays in important role in bone mineralisation).Female hormonal deficiency in the case of post menopausal women, leading to estrogen deficiency is also considered a risk factor and women are more susceptible to osteoarthritis.
In most of the cases, increased body weight contributes to the increased load transmitted across the weight bearing knees by a factor of three to seven times the body weight and leads to accelerated wear of the articular cartilage.
obesity is a potentially risk factor in the onset and deterioration of musculoskeletal conditions of the hip, knee, ankle, foot and shoulder. Majority of research has focused on the impact of obesity on bone and joint disorders, such as the risk of fracture and osteoarthritis. However, evidence indicates that obesity may also have a profound effect on soft-tissue structures, such as tendon, fascia and cartilage. Although the mechanism remains unclear, the functional and structural limitations imposed by the additional loading of the locomotor system in obesity have been accepted to unduly raising stress within connective-tissue structures and the potential for musculoskeletal injury . Considering the global increase in obesity and the rise in musculoskeletal disorders, there is a need to determine the physical consequences of loading of major structures of the locomotor system in the obese and to establish how obesity may interact with other factors to potentially increase the risk of musculoskeletal disease. Besides, the relationship between obesity and osteoarthritis is stronger for the disease and is greater in women. The load transmited to the knees varies with increased body weight.
Increases in life expectancy, coupled with overweight/ obese conditions of the population will lead to a larger number of patients with knee problems due to osteoarthritis . Several changes, metabolic as well as functional, connect obesity with Osteoarthritis. Random trials show substantial and clinically relevant disability and symptom relief in obese patients with knee osteoarthritis following moderate weight loss. While exercises are good for the functional status in general, it is advisable initially to prescribe weight loss as therapy of patients with a combination of obesity and OA.
Treatments / Tips to avoid Osteoarthritis:
1. Avoid being obese/ overweight , with weight management schedule and proper exercise.
2. Ensure intake of vitamins A and C, through food and nutrient supplements.
3. Ensure muscle strength in quadriceps ( thigh muscles )
4. Increased activities of kneeling, squatting, climbing stairs and lifting heavy loads cause abnormal joint loading across the knee joint and cartilage damage. To the extent possible, this may be reduced.
5. While Glucosomine is widely used as an alternative medicine to treat osteoartiritis, its use is not adviseable to patients suffering from Diabetes, and those who are obese, since it reduces the metabolic actions of insulin.
6. Application of 'emu oil' is considered to provide relief for joint pains and arthritis.
7.Liberal intake of orange juice or sweet limejuice or Vitamin C enhances the efficacy of any anti-rheumatic drug, since Vitamin C can reduce skeletal pain.
8.Body massage with sesame or mustard oil helps to reduce the pain. The joints affected by pain can be massaged for longer time.
9. Guggul is promoted as a traditional Ayurvedic treatment for osteoarthritis and obesity. However patients electing to use guggul should be closely monitored and counseled about the need for dietary modifications and exercise.

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