Arthritis In The Knee

Knee arthritis can also be called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is essentially the wearing down of the cartilage surrounding the knee which occurs simply as people age. Another common form of knee arthritis is Rheumatoid Arthritis, which results in swelling within the joint and damage to the cartilage. Not only do these forms of knee arthritis affect the joints and cartilage, they can also have a serious impact on the surrounding ligaments, muscles and tendons.

Osteoarthritis is often the result of increased strain on the joint due to weight, or repeated injury or damage. Knee arthritis is definitely more common in middle aged to elderly persons. A younger sufferer of knee arthritis has usually inherited the condition- it does have a genetic disposition, or it can be the after affect of a serious knee injury- more common in sports men- specifically footballers. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in younger people for this reason.

There are various warning signs for potential sufferers of knee arthritis- these could be restricted knee movement, localized swelling or inflammation and discomfort and pain. The most key indicator however is stiffness- when the knee has not been moved for a period of time, and then movement is not fluid- this is a possible indicator of knee arthritis. Another warning sign is a clicking sound coming from the joint when it is extended- this can be cause by other knee conditions other than knee arthritis however. Whatever the potential symptom, the patient will always need to have an X-Ray before any sense of a diagnosis can be performed by the recommending physician or doctor.

As the weather changes, arthritis in the knee often worsens due to the fact that affected joints are believed to develop additional nerve endings in an effort to protect the joint from more damage. In addition, sufferers who cope with arthritis in the knee are thought to be more vulnerable in the morning and/or when any movement is initiated.

It has been proven that one of the most significant factors in causing knee arthritis is being overweight. If the sufferer can begin a gentle exercise regime in combination with a healthy diet, there is every chance that the knee arthritis symptoms will ease.

Although there is no cure for arthritis in the knee, there are various treatment options available for sufferers. Among them, over the counter medications, prescription-based treatments, physical therapy, pain management and even surgery in extreme cases. In addition, numerous herbal therapies have been developed to help ease pain that is caused by arthritis in the knee.