What leads to osteoarthritis, which is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems affecting menopausal women?
Weak bones or osteoporosis leads to osteoarthritis. Early osteoarthritis is the wear and tear in articular cartilage. It is an age–related process. Due to genetic predisposition, some women may develop it at an early age. The articular wear and tear causes the underlying bones to rub against each other. This results in pain and swelling in and around the affected joint. Walking and weight–bearing activities tend to aggravate this situation. Osteoarthritis starts with pain in the affected joint, swelling and advanced cases lead to deformity in the joint (bowing of leg). Early stages of osteoarthritis can be effectively treated by medicine and physiotherapy, which includes heat therapy like IFT (interferential therapy) and other muscle–strengthening exercises. Advanced cases with badly damaged joints need joint replacement. Can rheumatoid arthritis – considered as one of the most serious and disabling types of arthritis – be prevented? No, it cannot be prevented. If detected early, long–
