Knees with recurring pain and swelling…likely warning signs of ‘osteoarthritis’
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St. Peter's Hospital 26-07-24 16:08Main content
Knees with recurring pain and swelling…likely warning signs of ‘osteoarthritis’
Pain is common in patients aged 60 and over… ‘natural ageing’ is a misconception
Weight management, good posture, walking… effective for strengthening the muscles around joints and preventing stiffness
[Baeksesidae = Reporter Bae Ji-young] Arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling, is a leading chronic disease that threatens everyday life in old age. Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) is the most common form, occurring mainly in joints that are heavily used or bear heavy loads, such as the knee as well as the hip, spine and hands.
Excessive use and repetitive strain cause degenerative changes in joint tissue and trigger inflammatory responses, and as these changes accumulate they lead to osteoarthritis. The high proportion of patients among older adults is related to this mechanism.
Kang, Seung-Baik, Director of the Knee Joint Center at St. Peter's Hospital and an orthopedics specialist, said, "A considerable number of patients in their 60s and older who come to hospital with knee or back pain are diagnosed with osteoarthritis," adding, "Managing the joints consistently and treating them appropriately on the basis of a correct understanding of the disease is what determines health in later life."
Beyond aging, 'changes in joint structure' are also a cause
A common misconception about osteoarthritis is that it is a natural part of ageing that everyone goes through. Medically, however, that is not accurate.
Research over the past 20 years or so has shown that osteoarthritis arises not from simple wear alone but from a combination of factors, including changes in the cartilage, inflammatory responses and structural changes in the bone beneath the cartilage. Osteoarthritis can in fact appear even in young athletes with a history of joint damage or trauma.
Osteoarthritis causes pain, swelling, stiffness and restricted joint movement, and generally progresses slowly. It can, however, deteriorate rapidly if a fall or injury damages the ligaments and other surrounding tissue.
As symptoms worsen, pain persists even without movement, and as activity decreases it accelerates muscle loss and frailty. This not only increases the risk of falls but also raises the risk of a range of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and depression.
Most common in the knee
Osteoarthritis occurs most commonly in the knee, because it is a heavily used joint that supports the body's weight. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, more than half of all osteoarthritis cases occur in the knee.
Typical symptoms that may point to knee arthritis include ▲knee pain or swelling after walking for a long time ▲pain when going up and down stairs ▲a knee that does not straighten properly or that hurts when standing up after sitting.
It is also worth suspecting when the knee makes a sound while walking or the gait becomes abnormal. If such symptoms recur, it is important not to dismiss them as simple fatigue or aging but to see a specialist for an accurate diagnosis.
The knee is the largest joint in the body and plays a central role in walking. Osteoarthritis of the knee can therefore go beyond simple discomfort and lead to a decline in overall physical function. This is why slowing the progression of cartilage damage as much as possible through early diagnosis and treatment matters most.
Director Kang, Seung-Baik explained, "In the early stages there may be only intermittent pain, but over time degenerative changes such as joint space narrowing, sclerosis and deformity progress, and pain and swelling worsen," adding, "Degenerative changes that have already occurred cannot be reversed, so it is important to keep an eye on the condition of your knees and seek care immediately when warning signs appear."
Treatment differs by stage of progression
Knee osteoarthritis is diagnosed through a physical examination that checks the pattern of pain and the range of joint motion, together with radiographic imaging. If the pain is severe relative to the plain X-ray findings, or a meniscus tear or microfracture is suspected, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is performed for a more accurate diagnosis.
Treatment varies with the stage of the disease and the patient's condition. In the early stages, exercise and improved lifestyle habits come first, followed by conservative treatment such as drug therapy, physiotherapy and exercise therapy.
Where necessary, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and similar medications are used to control pain and inflammation, and joint function is maintained with heat packs, electrical nerve stimulation and rehabilitative therapy. Injection therapy may also be considered when pain is severe.
Surgical treatment is required when symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily life or when there is no positive response to conservative treatment. Microfracture surgery or stem cell transplantation may be used where the cartilage is partially damaged, and artificial joint replacement surgery may be considered in the late stage, when the joint is severely deformed.
Good daily habits are the key to joint health
For knee joint health, it is important to manage body weight appropriately so as to reduce the load on the joints. Postures that place a heavy burden on particular areas, such as squatting, sitting cross-legged and crossing the legs, should be avoided. Getting into the habit of sitting on a chair or sofa rather than on the floor also helps reduce deformity of the knee.
Most important of all is regular exercise. Many people avoid exercise for fear of pain, but appropriate exercise actually helps strengthen the muscles around the joint and maintain its function.
That said, it is best to avoid exercising so hard that pain or swelling appears, and to keep exercise time moderate.
Director Kang, Seung-Baik stressed, "About 30 minutes a day of light walking, stretching, swimming or stationary cycling is effective for strengthening the muscles around the joints and preventing stiffness," adding, "Exercises that strengthen the quadriceps (the muscles at the front of the thigh) in particular are very important for protecting the knee and maintaining lower-body strength."
Pain is common in patients aged 60 and over… ‘natural ageing’ is a misconception
Weight management, good posture, walking… effective for strengthening the muscles around joints and preventing stiffness
[Baeksesidae = Reporter Bae Ji-young] Arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling, is a leading chronic disease that threatens everyday life in old age. Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) is the most common form, occurring mainly in joints that are heavily used or bear heavy loads, such as the knee as well as the hip, spine and hands.
Excessive use and repetitive strain cause degenerative changes in joint tissue and trigger inflammatory responses, and as these changes accumulate they lead to osteoarthritis. The high proportion of patients among older adults is related to this mechanism.
Kang, Seung-Baik, Director of the Knee Joint Center at St. Peter's Hospital and an orthopedics specialist, said, "A considerable number of patients in their 60s and older who come to hospital with knee or back pain are diagnosed with osteoarthritis," adding, "Managing the joints consistently and treating them appropriately on the basis of a correct understanding of the disease is what determines health in later life."
Beyond aging, 'changes in joint structure' are also a cause
A common misconception about osteoarthritis is that it is a natural part of ageing that everyone goes through. Medically, however, that is not accurate.
Research over the past 20 years or so has shown that osteoarthritis arises not from simple wear alone but from a combination of factors, including changes in the cartilage, inflammatory responses and structural changes in the bone beneath the cartilage. Osteoarthritis can in fact appear even in young athletes with a history of joint damage or trauma.
Osteoarthritis causes pain, swelling, stiffness and restricted joint movement, and generally progresses slowly. It can, however, deteriorate rapidly if a fall or injury damages the ligaments and other surrounding tissue.
As symptoms worsen, pain persists even without movement, and as activity decreases it accelerates muscle loss and frailty. This not only increases the risk of falls but also raises the risk of a range of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and depression.
Most common in the knee
Osteoarthritis occurs most commonly in the knee, because it is a heavily used joint that supports the body's weight. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, more than half of all osteoarthritis cases occur in the knee.
Typical symptoms that may point to knee arthritis include ▲knee pain or swelling after walking for a long time ▲pain when going up and down stairs ▲a knee that does not straighten properly or that hurts when standing up after sitting.
It is also worth suspecting when the knee makes a sound while walking or the gait becomes abnormal. If such symptoms recur, it is important not to dismiss them as simple fatigue or aging but to see a specialist for an accurate diagnosis.
The knee is the largest joint in the body and plays a central role in walking. Osteoarthritis of the knee can therefore go beyond simple discomfort and lead to a decline in overall physical function. This is why slowing the progression of cartilage damage as much as possible through early diagnosis and treatment matters most.
Director Kang, Seung-Baik explained, "In the early stages there may be only intermittent pain, but over time degenerative changes such as joint space narrowing, sclerosis and deformity progress, and pain and swelling worsen," adding, "Degenerative changes that have already occurred cannot be reversed, so it is important to keep an eye on the condition of your knees and seek care immediately when warning signs appear."
Treatment differs by stage of progression
Knee osteoarthritis is diagnosed through a physical examination that checks the pattern of pain and the range of joint motion, together with radiographic imaging. If the pain is severe relative to the plain X-ray findings, or a meniscus tear or microfracture is suspected, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is performed for a more accurate diagnosis.
Treatment varies with the stage of the disease and the patient's condition. In the early stages, exercise and improved lifestyle habits come first, followed by conservative treatment such as drug therapy, physiotherapy and exercise therapy.
Where necessary, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and similar medications are used to control pain and inflammation, and joint function is maintained with heat packs, electrical nerve stimulation and rehabilitative therapy. Injection therapy may also be considered when pain is severe.
Surgical treatment is required when symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily life or when there is no positive response to conservative treatment. Microfracture surgery or stem cell transplantation may be used where the cartilage is partially damaged, and artificial joint replacement surgery may be considered in the late stage, when the joint is severely deformed.
Good daily habits are the key to joint health
For knee joint health, it is important to manage body weight appropriately so as to reduce the load on the joints. Postures that place a heavy burden on particular areas, such as squatting, sitting cross-legged and crossing the legs, should be avoided. Getting into the habit of sitting on a chair or sofa rather than on the floor also helps reduce deformity of the knee.
Most important of all is regular exercise. Many people avoid exercise for fear of pain, but appropriate exercise actually helps strengthen the muscles around the joint and maintain its function.
That said, it is best to avoid exercising so hard that pain or swelling appears, and to keep exercise time moderate.
Director Kang, Seung-Baik stressed, "About 30 minutes a day of light walking, stretching, swimming or stationary cycling is effective for strengthening the muscles around the joints and preventing stiffness," adding, "Exercises that strengthen the quadriceps (the muscles at the front of the thigh) in particular are very important for protecting the knee and maintaining lower-body strength."