Four Common Osteoarthritis Myths

By Brian Acton

Arthritis affects millions of lives and comes in many different forms. There are over 50 different conditions that fall under the arthritis umbrella, with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis being the most common. Over 27 million Americans alone are affected by just osteoarthritis, so the chances are good that you know someone affected by arthritis, even if you don’t have it yourself. Common symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, tenderness and decreased mobility. The pain can worsen after activity and can be mild or severe. But despite the prevalence of osteoarthritis, there are still many public misconceptions surrounding it. Read on to find some of the most common myths about osteoarthritis and uncover the facts.

Arthritis Only Affects the Elderly  First, osteoarthritis is not an inevitable side effect of getting older. Although it’s one of the more common conditions affecting older people, osteoarthritis is not a foregone conclusion. More than half of people over the age of 65 don’t have arthritis! In fact, young people can get osteoarthritis too – even people under 30 years old. While joint wear and tear can cause osteoarthritis in older people, generally there is an identifiable reason for osteoarthritis in the young. For instance, injuries or physical overuse can lead to a younger person developing osteoarthritis.

Cracking Joints Causes Osteoarthritis Cracking your knuckles and joints can be pretty pleasurable, even if others find it gross or annoying! But you’ve likely heard that this activity will lead to arthritis. If you’re a habitual knuckle cracker, you can rest easy. There is no conclusive evidence or research that has linked the two. In one notable case, doctor Donald Unger cracked the knuckles of only his left hand for sixty years, leaving his right hand alone. After sixty years, both hands were still healthy!

Exercise Makes Arthritis Worse If you deal with regular joint pain, exercise might be your last priority. In fact, you may think your arthritis means you need to take it easy. But there are a number of reasons to keep regular exercise as part of your lifestyle. Being overweight can actually worsen your arthritis symptoms. Also, a lack of activity causes your joints to further weaken. To keep them strong and mobile, you need to keep using them. Low impact exercise like swimming, walking, or stretching can help keep your joints (comparatively) strong, healthy, and resistant to worsening arthritis pain.

All Joint Pain is caused by Arthritis As we mentioned before, there are over 50 different types of arthritis, and joint pain could well be caused by one of them. But before you self-diagnose, you should realize that a painful joint does not automatically mean you have arthritis. You could have a tissue injury or one of many conditions that affect joints, including tendinitis or bursitis. If you’re experiencing joint pain, there are too many different possibilities for you to assume you have arthritis. In fact, what you have could be curable! Make an appointment with your doctor to find out what could be causing your trouble.

In Conclusion Despite the common occurrence of osteoarthritis across the population, there are so many myths and mysteries surrounding it. If you or someone you know has arthritis, arming yourself with the facts will help demystify the condition. Luckily, through a combination of medical treatment, good physical habits, and products, arthritis is a condition that can be managed in a way that allows for a high quality of life.  

Sources:   http://www.aol.co.uk/living/2016/07/19/arthritis-myths-facts-treatments-pain/ http://www.everydayhealth.com/arthritis/joint-myths-facts.aspx http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/osteoarthritis-basics http://www.livescience.com/9729-knuckle-cracking-ig-nobel-prize.html