osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a condition characterized by extreme pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints. The condition can make it difficult for a person to stand or walk for long periods of time, and often impairs their ability to work and earn a living.

Osteoarthritis is the slow loss of cartilage from joints. The loss of the cartilage causes friction between bones, resulting in the formation of bone spurs. Osteoarthritis often causes severe pain in the knees, hips, spine and feet.

Early diagnosis of osteoarthritis can help patients who suffer from this condition implement better pain management strategies. Researchers at Warwick University recently announced that they have developed a blood test that can help in the early diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

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Contrary to popular belief, running could actually be beneficial to knee health. According to a new study, recreational running does not have any link to the development of osteoarthritis, and may actually be beneficial to the knee joint.

Earlier studies which have pointed to an association between running and knee arthritis usually focused on professional male runners. However, according to researchers, their new study focused only on non-elite recreational runners. Based on an analysis of 2,683 participants, researchers found that the prevalence of knee pain was lower among runners as compared to non-runners. Among runners, the knee pain rate was 35%, as compared to 41% for those who did not run.

It may be too early to conclude that running has a direct effect on knee health, and therefore directly contributes to a reduced risk of osteoarthritis. Runners generally tend to be closer to their ideal weight and fitter, and are also likely to follow a healthier lifestyle compared to non-runners. These may also be reasons for the reduced occurrence of osteoarthritis.

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Articles Tagged with osteoarthritis

Recreational Running May Reduce Osteoarthritis Knee Risk