Painful knee joints are often caused by knee osteoarthritis, a chronic degenerative condition afflicting the articular cartilage coating the bones located in the knee joint. This is the most common type of arthritis and usually affects people over 45 years of age, although incidence at earlier ages is not uncommon.
Symptoms & Causes of Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis is characterized by a gradual deterioration of the articular cartilage. The articular cartilage loses elasticity, hardens and develops cracks, becoming more prone to aggravated damage through continued use or injury.
The bones in the knee joints will rub against each other and will not move smoothly once osteoarthritis sets in. This results in painful knee joints caused by the rubbing of bones over roughened cartilage. This aggravation also results in further irritation of the bone.
Continued deterioration can lead to the thickening of the end of the bones and development of bone spurs. Under more serious conditions, small bits of cartilage may chip off and float around inside the knee. The lubricating and cushioning property of the joint fluid can also be impaired.
The degree of severity ranges from mild cases without symptoms or with mild symptoms, to advanced cases where the cartilage is totally damaged. In very severe cases the bone rubs on bone, damaging the articulating bones even more, resulting in excruciatingly painful knee joints.
Causes and Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis was previously thought to be caused as the result of normal 'wear and tear' and was attributable to old age. Recent studies however, have shown that normal activity is not the precursor of knee osteoarthritis. In fact, the reason for cartilage deterioration is not agreed on 100 percent by those in the medical field. Interestingly enough, many studies have stated that the deterioration of the articular cartilage may in fact be related to certain enzymes.
The typical symptoms include stiffness in the knee joint, limitation in range of motion, generalized lethargy of the knee and painful knee joints, especially when climbing up and down stairs. Moreover, the knee can also lose proper alignment. Under certain circumstances, the knee can be swollen but not red and hot. The more advanced cases would result in the deformity of the joint, causing it to seperate from proper alignment of the joint.
Middle aged individuals with a mild case of knee osteoarthritis tend to reduce their level of activity for fear that it can aggravate the condition as the disease progresses, and also because they fear it may worsen the painful knee joints. Unfortunately, this results in the weakening of the muscles that support the knee and can add even more stress on the knee joint.
Knee Braces as Treatment Option
Knee braces can be a very effective treatment option for managing painful knee joints. It could also be used as a complimentary regimen to a primary treatment procedure. One of the best features of a knee brace is its ability to provide functionality, additional support and pain relief for patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.
Usually, the knee brace is most appropriate for patients who are have cartilage loss in one component of the knee (aka unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis)
Unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis means that the symptoms are primarily located on the medial or lateral aspect of the knee. - An off loading or unloading knee support will do exactly what it's name would suggest; it helps to move stress away from the affected side of your knee joint.
There are many types of supports that can fit the needs of someone with painful knee joints. OA "unloader" knee supports are used to help relieve pain in your knee joint by helping to maintain a more proper alignment after osteoarthritis has set in. These knee braces should not be looked over. Many people praise their use, and use them for pain reduction on a daily basis.
Daniel Sims
Author Bio
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