On the occasion of World Arthritis Day on Wednesday, doctors said that a proper lifestyle, healthy diet, exercise or yoga can help a patient reduce the effects like extreme pain in the joints pain, swelling of the limbs and even stiffness besides reduced range of motion-common symptoms of the chronic ailment.
Arthritis is a disease related to joints and the cartilage where the cartilage gets thinner and thinner. The various types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and spinal disorders among others.
While Osteoarthritis is most common form of knee arthritis—bone degeneration disorder which leads to joint pain and stiffness in old age-- Osteoporosis is most common locomotor disability among the elderly people.
This year’s theme for World Arthritis Day is ‘It’s in your hands, take action.”
Experts warned that poor lifestyle and poor dietary habits could lead to weak bones, joints, and osteoporotic fractures even as advanced medical technology is increasing life
expectancy.
Dr l Tomar, Orthopedic Surgeon, Max super specialty hospital noted that Vitamin D deficiency during childhood and adolescence decreases peak bone mass in adults and may increase the risk of developing bone related problems.
Dr Raju Vaishya, President of Arthritis Care Foundation (AFC) and Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals warned that excessive use of face book and Whats App can lead to wrist and finger joint pain, arthritis and repetitive stress injuries to your hands, arms and back.
“A proper diet to keep weight in check with adequate amounts of Vitamin D—which one can avail by sitting under morning sun—and calcium is must. So are the regular exercises, especially walking,” said Dr Naval Bhatia, Head of joint replacement surgery unit, Ortho Department in Safdarjung Hospital. He
said one should avoid prolong sitting also —whether before TV or
computer.
One should avoid becoming overweight as the joints will not be able to bear the excess weight, he added. Fibrous diets are must to cleanse the system while junk food is strictly not advisable, suggested yoga expert Poonam Pawar.
“To start with, the arthritis patients should go for sukhsma vyayam (micro asanas) focusing the affected part. Also, those with family history of arthritis should take preventive steps from the beginning itself,” she
added.