Osteoarthritis Bracing

Introduction

Osteoarthritis (O/A) is the most common form of arthritis and the most common joint disease. Over 10 million Americans live with O/A of the knee alone. Most of the people who have osteoarthritis are older than age 45. Women are more commonly affected than men.

The Causes of Osteoarthritis are varied

Genetics may play a part in the development of O/A. Some people may be born with small defects regarding how their joints fit together. Others may have a genetic problem with their cartilage, which causes the cartilage to break down in joints as the person gets older.

People with diabetes may be prone to osteoarthritis. Diabetes can cause nerve problems. The loss of sensation may affect how the body knows the position and condition of the joints or limbs. In other words, the body can't tell when it is injured.

Traumatic causes are injuries to the joint. A bone break, over time, could cause the healed bones to line up improperly, lose stability, or damage cartilage. Another example of traumatic origin would be joint-damaging repetitive motions or the overuse noted in some occupations.

Inflammatory joint diseases certainly contribute and would include infected joints, chronic gouty arthritis, and rheumatoid disease.

The main symptom of osteoarthritis is pain. You may feel pain during movement and even at rest. Your joints may also be stiff and swollen, and you may even experience a loss of range of movement in the joint.

But you are not alone

The symptoms of osteoarthritis may interfere with your normal activities, such as walking and dressing, and they may also disrupt your sleep.

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint. It commonly occurs in the knees, hips, and spine. This condition also commonly affects the finger joints, the joint at the bottom of the thumb, and the joint at the bottom of the big toe. Osteoarthritis rarely affects the wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles, or jaw, except in cases of injury or unusual stress to the joint.

This condition can be a very mild disease or a severe disease that greatly limits everyday activity. For example, if you have osteoarthritis of the knee, you may feel tenderness in the knee area and pain during movement of the knee. You may also feel a "grating" or "catching" sensation in the joint during movement. The large muscles around your knee will become weaker with time if pain prevents you from moving or exercising the leg.

Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease. The breakdown of cartilage that is seen with this condition occurs in several phases: A healthy knee has a cushiony substance called cartilage on the ends of the bones. Cartilage is smooth and protects the ends of the bones from rubbing against each other and reduces friction. Inside your joint, there is a space between the cartilage of one bone and the cartilage of another. This space holds a fluid called synovial fluid.

When you have OA, your knee changes a little at a time. These changes can cause irritation, discomfort, and/or pain. The surface of the cartilage begins to break down.

Unhealthy cartilage is more easily damaged by everyday wear and tear or injury. In OA, synovial fluid may lose its ability to adequately lubricate and cushion the joint. Large sections of cartilage may wear away over time. Bony growths, or spurs, may form on the edges of bones. Areas of cartilage may totally wear away, leaving bone rubbing against bone.

In O/A of the knee, the result can be the painful rubbing together of the femur (thigh bone) against the tibia (shin bone).

As just one of many treatment options, your doctor may prescribe an O/A Knee Brace. After a comprehensive evaluation, your JP&O Orthotist will fit your custom O/A Knee Brace. Simply put, this comfortable brace applies a corrective force to the knee, causing the joint to realign. The result is decreased pain and increased mobility. Many patients experience almost instant relief.

The symptoms of OA are treatable, especially in the early stages of the disease. If you have pain or stiffness in a joint, JP&O Labs suggest that you contact your doctor to be evaluated for OA and other conditions. There are different therapies available to help reduce or eliminate the pain associated with OA. Your health care professional can help choose a treatment that's right for you.

Many physicians, including rheumatologists, recommend the conservative treatment of special custom-made knee braces for O/A of the knee. Of course, each patient is different and is treated accordingly.

For more information about arthritis, contact the Arthritis Foundation online at www.arthritis.org or call the AF Toll Free, 1-800-283-7800.