Hip And Knee Joint Pain

One of the most debilitating conditions a person can have is joint pain, especially chronic joint pain. It hurts to move, and so a person will be much less likely to use that joint, leading to a more sedentary lifestyle. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst things to do when experiencing joint pain, as it will just weaken the muscles and make the pain worse when a person does have to move. This seems fairly counterintuitive, but a healthy, active lifestyle is necessary not only to combat joint pain, but also to help and prevent it.

There are three main causes of joint pain: Osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. All three can be exceptionally debilitating, and it is not even always possible to avoid them. Osteoarthritis, for example, is the technical term for the normal wear and tear of life slowly deteriorating the cartilage around joints, causing the bones to grind against each other and cause pain.

Though it seems like being active will hasten this process, and that more active people would be more likely to have osteoarthritis, this is not the case. In fact, moderately active people are less likely to have this form of joint pain, because their joints are in use more and they do not strain their joints when they are active. Those who lead primarily sedentary lifestyles are much more likely to cause undue stress on their joints when they end up performing activities. Healthy activity can be good for the joints, strengthening the muscles surrounding them, reducing the strain on them. It is overexertion and pushing the body beyond its limit that causes the most strain on joints. Also, weight is a very important factor, as extra weight can put more stress on joints than the body can handle.

Another cause of joint pain, especially knee joint pain, is that of post-traumatic arthritis. Previous injuries can not quite heal right, and the new cartilage can be rougher or have other deformities which greatly increase the rate of joint deterioration. This is actually the most likely cause of early arthritis in athletes who are frequently injured. If a person previously had an injury, and the pain is localized like knee joint pain, then post-traumatic arthritis is probably the cause. Yet exercise and a moderately active lifestyle can reduce the chances of injury, as exercise results in stronger muscles and more limber joints.

The last major cause of joint pain is rheumatoid arthritis. This is essentially an autoimmune condition, where the lubricating liquid beside the joint becomes inflamed and cells from this liquid come into contact with the cartilage, deteriorating it. Rheumatoid arthritis can be the most effectively treated. In addition to joint replacement surgery, rheumatoid arthritis has several medications which can limit joint damage. If a person is experiencing inflammation as well as joint pain, he/she is advised to see a doctor as soon as possible to discuss treatment options. In fact, no matter whether it is finger, wrist, elbow, knee or hip joint pain, whether there was a previous injury or not, it is a good idea to talk with a doctor.

There are a few major causes of joint pain, but none of them need to keep a person down. In fact, getting a healthy amount of exercise will help to prevent both osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthritis. No matter the cause of the knee or hip joint pain, one of the most important things to do is to keep the joints limber by exercising. Keeping active will go a long ways towards both prevention and recovery.


Sources:
"Understanding How the Knee Works." Stryker. 2007. 17 Aug. 2007. http://www.aboutstryker.com/knee/facts/causes.php< br />
Cluett, Jonathan. "Hip Arthritis." About.com: Orthopedics. 25 May 2006. About, Inc. 17 Aug. 2007. http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/hipsurgery/a/hipar thritis.htm

Joint Pain. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. 22 Aug. 2006. U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. 17 Aug. 2007. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/00 3261.htm