Arthritis in knee is the most common osteoarthritis. This happens when the cartilage at the end of the knee bones undergo degenerative process. When the cartilage wears thin, both end of the bones contact and cause friction. This leads to inflammation of the joint and pain.
Osteoarthritis is often the result of increased strain on the joint due to weight, or repeated injury or damage. Knee arthritis is definitely more common in middle aged to elderly persons. A younger sufferer of knee arthritis has usually inherited the condition- it does have a genetic disposition, or it can be the after affect of a serious knee injury- more common in sports men- specifically footballers. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in younger people for this reason.
Unfortunately, the condition can get worse if it is not treated. A funny thing about arthritis in knee is that you don't experience the pain all the times. Some months you can be free of pain depending on the weather.
Only a proper diagnosis can eliminate other knee disorders. Your doctor can arrange a physical checkup and x-rays. X-rays help your doctor to determine the damage to the joint. These two examinations will determine whether you need comprehensive tests later on.
You may need to do an erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which is a blood test to confirm if you have rheumatoid arthritis. It show how fast the red blood cells hold together and fall to the bottom of a test tube. If they sink faster, it shows that you have inflammation in the body.
There are sets of exercises which a physician or doctor can recommend. These exercises benefit the knee arthritis by focusing mobility in certain parts of the knee where the stiffness is occurring, thus easing the symptoms of the knee arthritis.
By Ray Lam
