On World Arthritis Day 2024, India’s prime orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ashok Rajgopal talks in regards to the enhance in arthritis circumstances and associated knee substitute surgical procedures.
Arthritis is an umbrella time period for a number of well being situations that trigger ache, stiffness and swelling in joints, that are the assembly level of two bones in a physique. As many as 100 forms of arthritis exist, and the most typical forms of arthritis worldwide embrace osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Circumstances of each these types of the situation have witnessed a steep enhance globally. In accordance with the World Well being Group, from 1990 to 2019, there was a marked enhance of 113 p.c circumstances of osteoarthritis worldwide. And in 2019, 18 million folks worldwide have been dwelling with rheumatoid arthritis. Ladies are extra vulnerable to the situation because of a number of components. However being conscious of threat components in addition to early indicators and signs of arthritis, might help folks search well timed intervention to enhance their high quality of life, asserts senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ashok Rajgopal, who has carried out over 39,000 whole knee substitute surgical procedures and over 60,000 arthroscopic surgical procedures for sports activities accidents throughout his profession.
On the event of World Arthritis Day 2024, Well being Pictures interviewed Dr Ashok Rajgopal, at the moment Group Chairman, Institute of Orthopaedics at Medanta, to debate the prevalence of arthritis in girls, the prevention and administration of this well being situation, and why whole knee substitute surgical procedures are on an upswing.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. Arthritis is commonly thought-about an inevitable a part of growing old, particularly for ladies. How true is that this, and the way a lot will be prevented by proactive measures?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Arthritis is marked by joint ache, irritation, stiffness, and lowered mobility. Analysis reveals that ladies are twice as possible as males to develop arthritis, and three.5 instances extra more likely to undergo from knee arthritis, which is the most typical cause for knee substitute surgical procedure.
Taking easy steps to forestall the development of arthritis might help preserve it from impacting our day by day lives. The situation is linked to a number of threat components, each modifiable and non-modifiable. Whereas we can’t management the non-modifiable components, managing the modifiable ones might help cut back the danger of arthritis. Sustaining a balanced food regimen, managing your weight, and staying bodily energetic are key methods for avoiding knee points.
Q. The ladies-to-men ratio of arthritis circumstances is sort of skewed globally. What are the first threat components that make girls extra vulnerable?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Ladies have extra probabilities of getting arthritis than males, because of the anatomical variations. Ladies have broader hips (to help with childbirth), which ends up in an irregular limb alignment when in comparison with males. This causes elevated stresses throughout the knee joint which can result in arthritis. Ladies’s joints are additionally extra versatile, making them extra liable to accidents and subsequent arthritis. Genetics additionally affect the event of arthritis. In accordance with research, sure genes can elevate the opportunity of having arthritis. Ladies with a household historical past of arthritis are additionally extra liable to get affected.
Q. What’s the function of hormonal modifications, particularly throughout post-menopause, in accelerating the onset of arthritis in girls?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: There’s a potential hyperlink between oestrogen and cartilage, which acts as a cushion between the joints and the bones. Oestrogen protects the cartilage from irritation, however as oestrogen ranges drop after menopause, this safety disappears, predisposing them to arthritis of the knee.
Q. Knee substitute surgical procedures are rising globally. What’s contributing to this enhance?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: There are a number of causes which have helped increasingly more arthritis sufferers select whole knee substitute surgical procedure — the gold customary for the remedy of superior knee arthritis — over a lifetime of ache, dependence and immobility. Higher-designed implants, higher supplies, newer applied sciences, improved entry and consciousness have improved affected person outcomes, contributing to the rise within the variety of knee substitute surgical procedures being finished globally. Higher post-operative rehabilitative strategies imply sufferers get well sooner and extra successfully.
Q. It’s clear that technological development has revolutionised knee substitute surgical procedure, and the restoration interval for sufferers. What are some latest improvements that you’re most enthusiastic about as a specialist on this area?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Robotic-assisted whole knee replacements have helped enhance surgical accuracy within the positioning and the alignment of the knee. This know-how additionally helps steadiness ligaments and cut back the danger of unbalanced knees. These enhancements over guide surgical procedure have helped enormously enhance affected person satisfaction, and high quality of life.
Q. Are 80s a protected age bracket for knee substitute surgical procedure?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: There isn’t a particular cut-off age and older sufferers can profit from knee substitute surgical procedure as a lot because the youthful ones. Longer lifespan, enhancements in medical science and higher entry imply an growing variety of folks wish to and have the choice to retain their high quality of life nicely into the superior years. Most individuals on this age bracket stay regular, wholesome and energetic lives after present process knee substitute surgical procedure. Nevertheless, you will need to endure a medical analysis in session with the physician to find out the very best process for relieving arthritis-related ache and signs.
10 easy methods to ease joint ache naturally
Q. Well being is greatest protected earlier in life. For girls of their 30s and 40s, what early indicators of arthritis ought to they look ahead to?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Whereas girls are extra liable to arthritis, the danger will be mitigated by early consciousness and proactive steps. Understanding the warning indicators and threat components — comparable to menopause, household historical past, and weight administration — might help girls take cost of their joint well being earlier than arthritis turns into extreme. If you’re experiencing joint ache or stiffness interfering with actions of day by day dwelling, don’t ignore your arthritis signs. Common train, sustaining a wholesome weight, and well timed medical steering can considerably decrease the danger of arthritis-related problems.
Q. On condition that this situation typically results in lowered mobility and high quality of life, what function do bodily exercise and food regimen play in each stopping and managing the illness?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Weight problems is a well-established threat issue for arthritis. Participating in common train might help, with actions like strolling, biking, and yoga. Food regimen additionally influences arthritis threat, and sure vitamins, comparable to omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, have been linked to a decrease probability of growing the situation. Omega-3 fatty acids, recognized for his or her anti-inflammatory properties, are present in plant and nut oils like walnut, soybean, flaxseed, and olive oil.
Q. Psychological well being is commonly neglected in such situations. What recommendation would you give to girls managing the emotional toll of arthritis, particularly when mobility is compromised?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Stress and nervousness are frequent amongst sufferers coping with arthritis-related situations. Persistent ache and problem with motion can intensify these emotions, typically leading to lowered curiosity in day by day actions, low power, and lowered focus ranges. Regardless of this, staying energetic and working towards self-care are important. Methods comparable to meditation, music remedy, artwork, and social engagement might help handle signs. Above all, it’s essential for sufferers to seek the advice of their physician often to maintain the illness beneath management.
Q. What are your prime 5 day by day practices to keep up bone well being and general wellness?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Common train, wholesome consuming, reducing down on sugar, oil and salt, managing stress adequately, and sustaining work-life steadiness are all essential to musculoskeletal well-being.
