Ayurveda and Osteoarthritis
Learn about Osteoarthritis from Ayurveda perspective, find out its Symptoms and Prevalence!
Welcome to Ayurvedic treatment for Osteoarthritis FREE Email Training by Dr. Vikram Aditya Tomar!
In this first unit, you will find out about Osteoarthritis symptoms and how prevalent it is and who are more prone to be affected by it.
Do You Say Yes to Any of These?
Joints commonly involved in Osteoarthritis... See mostly weight bearing joints are involved.
Prevalence of Osteoarthritis based upon Age
Key Aspects of Osteoarthritis or Sandhivata:
All these are characteristics of Osteoarthritis. It is known in Ayurveda as Sandhivata.
Whatever is the name Osteoarthritis or Sandhivata, the disease is the manifestation of degenerative changes in joints. The degenerative changes can be due to age (remember onset after 40 or 50 years) or injury or overuse or strenuous use and bad posture (onset can be earlier at any age).
Whatever is the name Osteoarthritis or Sandhivata, the disease is the manifestation of degenerative changes in joints. These can be due to age or injury or overuse or strenuous use and bad posture (onset can be earlier at any age).
Even if it is during 50 or 60 years of age, there are degenerative changes due to age or age related weakening or wear and tear of joints.
Again, these changes are more in weight bearing joints as these are prone to wear and tear due to age, injury or bad posture.
In many cases, especially sports or injury or any other form of strenuous abuse, the wear and tear can be substantially present quite early and in younger age.
Is Risk of Osteoarthritis same in Men & Women?
Before the onset of Menopause in women, the prevalence of osteoarthritis should be same in men and women. However, women are generally more predisposed to it. The main factor could be neglect of healthy diet because of focus and dedication for kids and spouse. This is one of the real factor in both developed and developing countries. Hats Off to Ladies!
And even after menopause, women need to take better care of them. Women are more prone to develop weakness of bones and cartilages after menopause due to hormonal changes. That is why arthritic changes can be more progressive in women after menopause.
Among people younger than age 45, osteoarthritis is more prevalent among men; among those age 45 and older, it is more prevalent among women. (Berger 2011)
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of disability in adults. (Lawrence 2008)
Osteoarthritis ranks fifth among all forms of disability worldwide. (Murray 2012) - Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common articular disease of the developed world and a leading cause of chronic disability, mostly because of knee OA and/or hip OA. (Grazio 2009)
Osteoarthritis is thought to be the most prevalent of all musculoskeletal pathologies, affecting an estimated 10 percent of the world’s population over the age of 60. (Pereira 2011) - The prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) increases with age, up to 80 percent in people over age 65.
Are Obese persons more prone to Osteoarthritis?
Being overweight also puts additional strain on weight bearing joints. Additionally, it does affect digestion, nutrition and metabolic processes in an adverse manner that also impacts joints wellbeing.
Obesity generally increases 10% or more chances of having Osteoarthritis than persons with normal weight.
Risk of Osteoarthritis in Certain Occupations:
Both occupations that involve sedentary lifestyle or strenuous movements or standing run a risk of getting more wear and tear in joints.
Sedentary lifestyle involves stiffness and weakening of surrounding muscles. Bad posture strains the joints.
On the other side, certain occupations and sports like soccer, wrestling, boxing, jobs where one has to stand for prolonged time are also more prone to develop osteoarthritis.
Some Real Life Examples of Osteoarthritis:
Robert is in his late Fifties and works as a Sales Manager. He found difficulty in climbing stairs. There is discomfort and some pain in sole and knee joints. It is more prominent in right side than left. He visited a doctor and got a X Ray done. The doctor told that he has Osteoarthritis and there is small bony growth (Osteophyte) development in ankle region (Calcaneal spur). However, there is only some diminished gap in knee joint.
Martha is a retired teacher and is in late 70s. She finds it difficult to keep up with day to day activities. There is pain in her hip and knee joints. She needs assistance in getting down or up the stairs. Doctors diagnosed Osteoarthritis several years back but the condition got deteriorated in last 3 years. She was suggested knee replacement for advanced Osteoarthritis.
About Next Unit:
In the next training session, you will learn about...
- About healthy and normal joint
- What changes take place into a normal joint to turn it into Osteoarthritis afflicted joint
- Stages of Osteoarthritis
This will help you to understand what goes wrong in Osteoarthritis and how it would be affected by Ayurvedic herbs and other modalities.
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