Keep Moving Your Joint Freely
Oct 29, 2018
About Arthritis
What is “arthritis”? Arthritis is referring to any joint pain or joint diseases. The word is derived from Greek language with “arthron” meaning a joint, and “-itis” meaning inflammation. Most people think it only happens to elderly people. Due to this perception, most of the younger people with pain, swelling or stiffness at joint(s) might not considering it as arthritis. In fact, even active young adults are at risk of having arthritis.
About Arthritis
What is “arthritis”? Arthritis is referring to any joint pain or joint diseases. The word is derived from Greek language with “arthron” meaning a joint, and “-itis” meaning inflammation. Most people think it only happens to elderly people. Due to this perception, most of the younger people with pain, swelling or stiffness at joint(s) might not considering it as arthritis. In fact, even active young adults are at risk of having arthritis.
- Pain. It is either constant or it may come and go. It can happen at any time, no matter when you are resting or moving around. Pain may present in one part or in many various parts of the body.
- Swelling. Certain kinds of arthritis can cause the skin over the affected joint redden, swollen, and feeling warm to touch.
- Stiffness. Typically happens when waking up in the morning or after sitting at a desk or riding in a car for long hours.
- Difficult moving a joint. This may cause trouble in your daily activities, for instance standing up from a sofa, climbing staircase or squatting down to pick up a key.
Common Types of Arthritis
There are several types of arthritis which includes:
- Degenerative arthritis. It is also known as wear and tear joint disease, with osteoarthritis (OA) as the most common type. It happens when the joint cartilage breaks down, joint bones rubbing against each other, resulting in pain, swelling and stiffness.
- Inflammatory arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, leading to uncontrolled inflammation, potentially causing joint erosion. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis are examples of inflammatory arthritis.
- Metabolic arthritis. This is referring to the raised levels of uric acid which either being produced more than needed; or the body can’t get rid of it quickly enough. The excess uric acid might build up and forms needle-like crystals in the joint. This result in a sudden flare up of inflammation and joint pain, which generally known as gout attack.
Nutrients That Protect the Cartilage
Cartilage acts as a cushion between bones and provides a gliding surface for joint motion. It also helps to support and distribute loads over the surface for joint motion, up to seven times of body weight! Maintaining a healthy cartilage is the most effective way in reducing the risk of getting OA. There is a large study proven that a combined 500mg of glucosamine and 400mg of chondroitin sulfate, taken three times daily can provide clinically meaningful and sustained analgesia in knee OA.
- Glucosamine. Glucosamine is a sugar naturally produced by the body as a precursor to produce glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain on the proteoglycans. It serves as building blocks for growth, repair and maintenance of cartilage. It also aids in cartilage metabolism and repairs damaged or eroded cartilage.
- Chondroitin. Chondroitin is a molecule found naturally within body. It is a vital part of cartilage that cushions the joints and maintains the cartilage’s elasticity by retaining water. It also reduces enzymes activity that break down cartilage.
References
- Arthritis Foundation. 2018. Inflammation and Stiffness: The Hallmarks of Arthritis. [Retrieved from https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/arthritis-swelling-and-stiffness.php , 5 June 2018].
- Arthritis Foundation. 2017. What Is Arthritis? [Retrieved from http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-arthritis.php , 5 June 2018].
- Arthritis Australia. 2015. Glucosamine and chondroitin. [Retrieved from https://arthritissa.org.au/downloads/2015-05-11_224150_Glucosamine-and-chondroitin.pdf , 5 June 2018].
- Provenza, J. R., Shinjo, S. K., Silva, J. M., Peron, C. R. G. S., & Rocha, F. A. C. (2015). Combined glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, once or three times daily, provides clinically relevant analgesia in knee osteoarthritis. Clinical rheumatology, 34(8), 1455-1462.
