Joint problems can be found among young children, women, active people and the elderly. These problems are one of the most common orthopedic issues that people face and can result from a number of different factors. Joint is the location where different bones in our body connect, which is helped by ligaments and tendons. The principle job of a joint is to lend stability, strength and range of motion to our body. Joint problems can sometimes be difficult to deal with, depending on the severity of the symptoms and the amount of damage caused. Here are some common kinds of joint problems that people usually suffer from.
Arthritis
Classified into different types, Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints. This can happen due to many reasons including age related deterioration, wear and tear, damage from overuse or impact, a decrease in the right amount of cartilage and auto immune disorders. Arthritis is seen in people from all ages and this condition can affect a variety of different joints in the body. The common symptom of arthritis is a feeling of stiffness in the joints which slowly gives rise to joint pain. Treatment of Arthritis is usually symptomatic with the focus being on speeding up natural healing and preventing further damage.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the specific kind of arthritis which results from the gradual wearing out of cartilage tissue from the joints. Primarily seen as an age related condition, osteoarthritis can be seriously debilitating causing pain, stiffness and loss of range of motion. The treatment consists mostly of physical therapy, exercise and following better habits.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a condition that involves the immune system and damage is caused to the joints by body’s own immune system. This auto-immune condition usually affects the hands and feet but can happen with other important joints as well. With no sure cure for this condition, the treatment is limited to measures meant to reduce pain and swelling.
Strains and Sprains
Among the most common joint problems, strains and sprains can be caused as a result of different physical activities and are usually easy to treat. While sprains involve damage to a ligament, strains have to do with damage to tendons and muscle tissue. These conditions are more frequently found in the legs, especially in the calf and thigh muscles.
Common symptoms are bruising, inflammation, pain and cramps. The usual line of treatment of a sprain or strain includes rest, immobilization, ice packs and prescription of medication.
