‘Need to spread awareness on arthritis prevention & care’

One in three persons above the age of 60 suffers from arthritis, while a conservative estimate by doctors suggests that at least 15% of the general population suffers from the ailment.
Doctors say that with such a large number of people suffering from the ailment, there is an urgent need to spread awareness on arthritis prevention and care.

As people observe World Arthritis Day on October 12, Dr Hemant Wakankar, consultant joint replacement surgeon at Ruby Hall Clinic and Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, spoke with Alifiya Khan stressing on this year’s theme, ‘Move to improve: lifestyle modifications to improve quality of life’.

What are the risk factors ?
Mainly, there are two types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). The former happens due to certain problems in the immune system, while the latter is age-related. Natural wear and tear of joints leads to this condition, but certain factors like obesity, genetic susceptibility, sedentary lifestyle and excessive smoking can also lead to arthritis early in life.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?
The main symptom is discomfort that becomes acute after a certain point. The common symptoms are muscle ache, stiffness, difficulty in moving joints or pain in movement, poor sleep and weight loss.

Can arthritis be prevented?
It depends on the kind of arthritis that a person is suffering from. OA can be delayed and managed from getting worse by taking certain precautions.
If a person shows early signs of the disease; maintaining mobility, a balanced diet, physical therapy to strengthen muscles and joints and medication can keep the condition from deteriorating.

Is there any specific therapy that benefits patients? What about knee and spine clubs?
Knee and spine clubs basically help in lifestyle modifications; they help people do light exercises and give physiotherapy to keep muscles toned. Occupational therapy such as handles to support walking at strategic places in the house might also help make quality of life
better.

Explain the significance of this year’s theme, ‘Move to improve’?
The theme points towards the importance of mobility as well as the need to improve the quality of life. Earlier, patients wouldn’t come to us for joint replacements unless they became bedridden.
But now patients seek a better life and demand surgery to limit their pain. So, a better quality of life is what we should aim for patients suffering from arthritis instead of just trying to contain the pain.