Early Signs of Knee Arthritis and How to Treat Them

Arthritis is an umbrella term for over 100 conditions. It affects people of all ages and can appear in many of the joints in our bodies. The most common type of arthritis is in the knee. The knee joint comprises the thigh bone (femur), the shinbone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella).

THE COMMON TYPES OF KNEE ARTHRITIS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Osteoarthritis usually develops with age where the cartilage in the knee joint wears down over time.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can develop at any age and involve other joints and affect other parts of the body.

Post-traumatic arthritis. Due to trauma, the cartilage starts thinning and causes pain, stiffness, and restriction of movement.

Although arthritis can develop at any age, people above 50 years of age have a higher risk and women tend to experience symptoms and get diagnosed more often than men. Unfortunately, arthritis has no cure, but there are many different ways to ease the symptoms.

EARLY SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ARTHRITIS

It is preferable to be aware and manage symptoms early when it comes to arthritis in order to prevent the condition from getting worse. When arthritis is developing, you may feel pain in your knees when standing up from a seated position, walking, and climbing up or down stairs.

The other symptoms of arthritis may include:

• Joint pain and stiffness
• Difficulty with movement
• Knee clicking or snapping noises
• Knee locks
• Skin redness
• Swelling and Redness

Some may notice that symptoms are worse with cold weather, stress, and strenuous activity.

WHEN TO GET CHECKED BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL

You should always seek medical advice early to be able to manage symptoms effectively.

You may choose to see your doctor if you notice early signs or have symptoms such as pain and inflammation that are becoming difficult to manage. If your knee is affecting your daily life, then it is best to get checked as soon as possible.

KNEE ARTHRITIS DIAGNOSIS

Your doctor will likely order scans to check your knee for arthritis. This will help determine the type of arthritis, changes and space in your bones and rule out other conditions such as bone spurs. Doctors would check the cartilage in order to pinpoint where the pain is coming from.

TREATING AND MANAGING ARTHRITIS

There are many methods to manage and reduce the symptoms of arthritis which could manage the condition.Tips from healthcare providers on how to manage arthritis symptoms include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight to help reduce load on the joints
• Low-impact activities such as swimming, cycling and yoga
• Applying heat or ice in the area
• Wear a quality knee brace
• Walking on a treadmill/flat surface instead of a sidewalk 
• Use shock-absorbing insoles in your shoes
• Physical therapy
• Drink vitamins and supplements
• Other treatments such as acupuncture

BAUERFEIND KNEE BRACES FOR KNEE ARTHRITIS

The use of knee braces on the knees provides compression to the surrounding muscles, stimulating them to help relieve the stiffness of the joint. Braces help with pain management by stimulating the surrounding muscles as well as specialised supports around the patella creating a soothing massaging effect to ultimately improve function, reduce pain and increase confidence in order to walk and move more freely.

Depending on the condition, there are several knee braces available to suit your needs:

For Mild Osteoarthritis

GENUTRAIN A3

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For Mild Osteoarthritis with joint instability

GENUTRAIN S HINGED BRACE

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For Moderate osteoarthritis with varus or valgus misalignment

GENUTRAIN OA

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