The effects of arthritis have been highlighted by Ibn Al Nafees consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ali Jaffar Al Aradi.
“Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints,” he said.
“Any joints can be affected, but the knee joint is commonly involved.
“Being a weight bearing joint it will affect daily activities, such as walking, climbing stairs and among Muslims will affect their prayer.
“The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis a disease that primarily affects the articular cartilage followed by Rheumatoid arthritis which is an auto immune disease; which attacks the membrane lining the joint (synovial membrane).”
Dr Al Aradi also discussed how a person’s lifestyle can affect arthritis.
Lifestyle
“Arthritis certainly will be affected by bodyweight and lifestyle, through loading the joint by athletic activities, squatting and kneeling,” he said.
“Although there is no definite cure for arthritis there are many treatment options available to help manage pain and keep people staying active.
“Of these treatments physiotherapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, these measures will ease the pain.
“In early stages of osteoarthritis you may use a special injection called Hyaluronic acid injection, these when given into the joints will lubricate the cartilage and help the joint to produce the oily fluid necessary for lubrication preventing friction of the cartilage.”
He said surgery will become necessary in a number of instances, including when joints get destroyed.
“Surgery is usually advised to the elderly when joints get destroyed and the patient is crippled, so joint replacement is the common way of treatment,” he added.
“In young patients sometimes we tend to correct deformities, so as to avoid unilateral loading of the joint.
“It is important to have lifestyle modifications by avoiding high impact activities to the joints, reducing weight and avoiding squatting and kneeling.”
To make an appointment with Dr Al Aradi, call 17828208 or visit www.ibnalnafees.com.
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