What is arthritis? Arthritis, is derived from the Greek words “athro” meaning joint and “itis” meaning inflammation. So, arthritis is a simple term that means inflammation of the joint. There are many types of arthritis with the two most common types being osteoarthritis and rheumatory arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is joint inflammation that results from wear and tear on the joints. Osteoarthritis is not a purely genetic condition but does have some genetic components because the shape of our skeletons is heavily dictated by our genes.
Our skeletons will adapt to the forces that are placed upon them. From the time we are babies we are constantly getting a new skeleton. In fact we get a new skeleton almost every ten years. Our bodies are growing rapidly and new bone cells are being formed constantly. This is one of the reasons children heal much more quickly than adults and especially senior citizens. Our nervous system significantly declines causing us to limit the amount of physical activity we can tolerate.
As we age we experience diminishing
- Elasticity, hydration and calcium from our bones
- Creation of new bone cells
- Strength and flexibility muscles
- Sensitivity of our skin
- Ability to create and absorb high forces
- Acuity in vision and hearing
- Proprioception and balance
Wolf’s Law
According to Wolf’s Law, the body is constantly remodeling itself against the forces it encounters. Connective tissues like bone adapt to stress and strain by creating more strength to tolerate those forces in the next encounter. The body is always trying to prepare itself for the future. When it experiences high demands it prepares itself to make those high demands easier to handle the next time. For example, weight bearing exercise increases bone mineral density.
The Impact of Arthritis
Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in Americans , 19 million people. 20 percent (46 million) of people report M.D. diagnosed OA and rates are expected to increase to 67 million by 2030. Arthritis results in 36 million outpatient visits, 750,000 hospitalizations and 81 billion dollars in medical costs (1 percent of the GDP). Physical activity is promoted to assist in health and wellness however many people are limited in their physical activity because of arthritis. A decline in physical activity levels may
lead to impairments in other body systems and susceptibility to chronic disease.
We Can Help
Physical Therapy can significantly help individuals experiencing joint pain. See Anti-Arthritis page. At Revolution Physical Therapy we utilize a comprehensive program to counteract all of the causative and aggravating factors of joint pain and osteoarthritis.
Contact us for a free consultation to determine how you can maintain or gain improved quality of life and function. Imagine feeling free to move throughout your life as you please. At any age, you can improve your mobility and function ultimately limiting your risk for osteoarthritis and chronic disease. Discover how Revolution Physical Therapy is changing the way Americans, especially the baby boomers, can feel about getting older.
Discover how Revolution Physical Therapy is changing the away Americans, especially the baby boomers, can feel about getting older.