Knee Osteoarthritis: Causes, Remedies, Treatments, and Prevention

La gonarthrosis, also known as knee osteoarthritis, is a chronic condition very widespread and concerns approximately 6 percent of adults, between the ages of 50 and 60, with a greater prevalence in women than men. When it arrives, the bones can no longer slide easily over each other, and the joint is severely damaged. In some cases, the pathology can become disabling and impact the quality of life of those who suffer from it.

What

Gonarthrosis is a chronic degenerative disease of articular cartilage (which normally cushions the load), which over time leads to damage in the underlying bone. Essentially, the bone thickens and flattens, as the cartilage's cushioning function is lost.

Types of osteoarthritis

The main types of osteoarthritis are:

1. Primary osteoarthritisThis type develops without an obvious cause. It is often related to aging and normal joint deterioration As we age, it can affect various joints, including the knees, hips, and hands, without any underlying trauma or cause.
2. Secondary osteoarthritis: It arises from pre-existing conditions or trauma. It is more likely in individuals who have suffered joint injuries, infections, congenital deformities or who suffer from other joint diseases such asrheumatoid arthritisObesity and repetitive strain can also be triggers.
3. Focal or localized osteoarthritisIt affects one or more joints, such as the knee, hip, or hand. In this case, it can be caused by excessive overload over time or localized wear and tear.
4. Generalized osteoarthritisIt involves multiple joints simultaneously and may be associated with genetic factors, often involving the hands, knees, hips, spine, and other joints.

Cause

Among the main causes of knee osteoarthritis are:

• Overweight and obesity
• Congenital deformities of the leg axis, such as bow legs or knees valgus
• Functional overload, due to intense physical activity that has particularly stressed the knee
• Previous trauma: fractures, meniscus injuries, distortions
• Advanced age, which can cause a natural aging process of cartilage

Symptoms

The most obvious symptoms of this chronic disease are:

• Knee pain and swelling: the former decreases with rest
• Difficulty straightening and flexing the knee
• Stiffness in movements
• Joint effusion
• Lameness

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis always starts from the visit to the orthopedist and symptom assessment. Then we move on to the knee x-ray, which can provide a fairly complete picture and even confirm any suspected osteoarthritis. In specific cases, and upon the doctor's recommendation, an MRI scan may also be performed.

From these tests it is possible to highlight whether there are critical issues such as:

• Narrowing of joint spaceThis phenomenon is one of the hallmarks of osteoarthritis, due to the wear and tear of the cartilage lining the joint surfaces.
• Thickening of the bone under the cartilage: Known as subchondral sclerosis, is a reaction of the bone to the progressive deterioration of the cartilage.
• Presence of osteophytesAlso called “bone bumps,” these are small growths that form at the edges of the bone in response to joint damage and can cause pain and limit movement.
• Possible subchondral cysts: Small fluid-filled cavities that form inside the bone near the joint and may indicate advanced osteoarthritis.
• Inflammation of the surrounding soft tissuesAlthough rarer, inflammation can occur in more severe cases, involving the ligaments and tendons surrounding the joint and contributing to pain and swelling.

Cures and treatments

When osteoarthritis is in its early stages, to slow its progression and relieve symptoms it may be useful:

• Resort to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Lose weight when you are overweight or obese
• Do exercises to strengthen muscle mass of the leg
• Submit to physical therapies such as tecar therapy , Laser therapy
• Request hyaluronic acid infiltrations o mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow or fat.

If, however, there is an alteration of the knee axis, in the early stages of evolution, acorrective intervention osteotomy, both for preventive use and to slow down the progression.

When, however, the joint is now seriously compromised, it is possible to consider a knee prosthesis.

Complications

Knee osteoarthritis can lead to a number of complications that significantly affect the patient's quality of life:

1. Limitation of movement and reduction of mobilityAs the disease progresses, the articular cartilage wears away, reducing the knee's range of motion and making it difficult to perform daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or standing for long periods of time.
2. Joint deformityIn advanced cases, osteoarthritis can cause visible deformities of the knee, often due to the growth of osteophytes or thickening of the bone, leading to an irregular appearance of the joint.
3. Chronic painThe pain can become persistent and not respond easily to standard treatments, affecting not only the function of the knee but also general well-being and sleep quality.
4. Risk of fallsMuscle weakness and reduced joint stability can increase the risk of falls, especially in older adults, making them more susceptible to fractures or other injuries.

Prevention

The first form of prevention against gonarthrosis is physical activity: from walk, even at a brisk pace, at ARTISTICSecondly, any exercises that strengthen muscle tone are beneficial, especially those of the hip and quadriceps muscles. Finally, weight remains crucial: overweight and obesity are, statistics show, among the most common causes of knee osteoarthritis.

Read also:

• How to distinguish arthritis from arthrosis
• Knee Pain: Causes, Remedies, and Prevention
• Why the knee gives way
• How to protect your knees