Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis among Singapore’s ageing population. It occurs due to the wear and tear of your cartilage, the tissues cushioning the ends of your bones and joints. Deterioration of your cartilage happens naturally as you age and may lead to pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the joints in the hands, knees, hips and spine.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of osteoarthritis may develop slowly and worsen over time, these symptoms include:
- Pain: Affected joints may ache or hurt during or after movement.
- Stiffness of the joints: Joint stiffness may be more noticeable after the joints have been rested, such as upon waking up or a period of inactivity.
- Tenderness in the joints: Joints may feel tender when you apply pressure to or near them.
- Loss of flexibility: You may not be able to have full range of movement in your joints.
- Grating sensation: You may feel a grating sensation when moving the joint, or hear a popping or crackling sound.
- Swelling of the joints: Swelling of the joints are caused by soft tissue inflammation around the joints.
Risk Factors
- Age: Your risk of osteoarthrisis increases with age
- Gender: Although both men and women can get osteoarthritis, the condition is more common in women
- Obesity: Obesity may contribute to osteoarthritis as your body will have to carry the extra weight which adds stress to weight0bearing joints such as the hips and knees. Fat tissues also produce proteins that may cause harmful swelling in and near your joints.
- Joint Injuries: Injuries sustained from sports or accidents may increase your risk of osteoarthritis.
- Repeated stress on joints: Repeatedly stressing joints due to sports or a job may result in the joint developing osteoarthritis someday.
- Bone deformities: Some people are born with defective cartilage or malformed joints.
- Genetics: Some people are born with a natural tendency to develop osteoarthritis.
The Comprehensive Fall Prevention Guide for Seniors with Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis
Ageing is often accompanied by an increased risk for various health conditions, among which osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are particularly common. We discussed with rheumatologist Dr. Anita Lim how to detect, prevent, and manage osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
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Move well. Feel well. Caring together for your bones and joints means taking care of your range of movements and the quality of life you want. From exercise and nutrition, to attending to injuries and long- and short-term conditions, moving well can influence your daily routines, work and play.
Empowering Yourself with Knowledge
This resource provides information about cancer, including:
- Importance of Bone & Joint Care: Understand the importance of maintaining your bone and joint health.
- Common Orthopedic Conditions: Learn about the different types of common orthopedic conditions and their characteristics.
- Key Risk Factors: Explore various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors that may leave you susceptible to orthopedic conditions.
- Ways to Improve Bone & Joint Care: Learn about lifestyle factors and preventive measures to minimize your risk of orthopedic conditions.
What is Bone & Joint Care?
Bone and joint care focuses on maintaining the health and function of your musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. It involves preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions that affect these structures, such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, fractures, sprains, and strains. Good bone and joint health is essential for mobility, independence, and overall quality of life.
Importance of Bone & Joint Care
- Mobility & independence: Healthy bones and joints allow you to move freely and perform daily activities without pain or limitations.
- Pain prevention: Bone and joint problems can cause chronic pain that affects your ability to work, sleep, and enjoy life.
What Causes Orthopedic Conditions?
Heart disease is caused by a complex interplay of factors, including:
- Non-Modifiable Factors: Age, gender, ethnicity family history, and inherited genetic mutations.
- Modifiable Factors:
- Lifestyle: Diet, occupation, sports and physical activities, and poor posture.
- Health: Obesity, Prior injuries
Symptoms of Orthopedic Conditions
Symptoms of orthopedic conditions may vary depending on the type of orthopedic conditions. However, some general signs and symptoms include:
- Pain in the affected segment of the bone or joint
- Swelling and Redness
- Joint stiffness
- Limited range of movement
- Numbness, tingling or weakness
Important Note: These symptoms may also be indicative of other health conditions. Speak to our Specialists today for proper evaluation and diagnosis.
Common Orthopedic Conditions in Singapore
- Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes the breakdown of cartilage, the smooth tissue that cushions the ends of bones in joints.
- Fractures happen when there is a break in a bone, which can be caused by trauma or osteoporosis.
- Sprains & Strains, are stretches or tears of a ligament (sprain) and stretches or tears of a muscle or tendon (strain).
- Back Pain can be caused by various factors, including muscle strains, ligament sprains, disc herniation, and spinal stenosis.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome happen when the median nerve, which runs through the wrist, is compressed.
- Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that typically develops during adolescence.
Improving Bone & Joint Health
Here are some helpful ways to improve your bone & joint health:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet with an emphasis on calcium-rich food such as dairy-products and leafy green vegetables.
- Get enough vitamin D which is essential for calcium absorption. You can do so by getting sufficient sunlight or from fortified foods and supplements.
- Engage in regular physical activities by doing weight-bearing exercises such as jogging or stair climbing, muscle-strengthening exercises which build muscle mass and flexibility exercises such as yoga and stretching.
- Practice good posture, avoid slouching and maintain proper posture while sitting and standing.
- Manage existing medical conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis through medication and lifestyle changes.