Prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis

  Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease, also known as osteoarthrosis, with an incidence of 10%-17% in people aged 40, 50% in people aged 60 or older, and 80% in people aged 75 or older, with more women than men, and obese people prone to osteoarthritis. It is most common in the knee joint, followed by the finger joints, spinal joints, ankle joints, elbow joints, and hip joints. Secondary osteoarthritis has local causative factors.  The etiology of osteoarthritis may be related to the following factors: 1. age, of all the pathogenic factors, aging is one of the most important; 2. genetic factors; 3. joint injury and overuse; 4. obesity; 5. bone density; 6. long-term oral intake of certain medications; and 7. lifestyle habits.  Whether or not you have symptoms such as low back pain, you need to pay attention to your joints if you have age, lifestyle habits, long-term weight-bearing exercise (including obesity) or genetic and other factors. If possible, visit a local hospital for serum calcium and bone density testing and joint muscle ultrasound.  Osteoarthritis should be prevented by paying attention to dietary habits and lifestyle habits depending on gender, age and lifestyle habits. Long-term smokers, alcohol drinkers, long-term users of glucocorticoid-containing drugs, middle-aged and elderly people, and menopausal women should pay attention to calcium supplementation. Perform gentle exercise such as walking and swimming. However, weight-bearing or overly intense sports and exercise should be avoided as much as possible. Treatment mainly includes non-pharmacological treatment such as functional training, physical therapy, joint protection, etc. Drug treatment mainly includes sodium hyaluronate, glucosamine, non-steroidal analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. Serious cases need to consider surgery.