The aging body and osteoarthritis

Christopher Thomas

Christopher Thomas has written 101 posts in this blog.

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About osteoporosis

Free-moving joints allow our skeleton and muscles to do the jobs that need to be done. These movements are facilitated by the flexibility of the structures surrounding each joint (tendons, muscles and ligaments), as well as internal lubrication and cushioning. The lubrication is provided by synovial fluid. Like oil in a hinge, this allows a joint to smoothly slide from one position to another.  The cushioning is provided by cartilage, which covers the ends of the bones in a smooth, slippery surface, reducing friction and evenly distributing the load across the joint.

A decrease of synovial fluid lubrication or the wearing down of the protective cartilage cover leads to pain and stiffness, known as osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but is most common in the hands, knees, hips and spine. The processes that lead to osteoarthritis take a long time to develop, which is why it is most commonly seen in older individuals. By the age of 65, four out five people will have osteoarthritis visible on x-ray and two thirds will experience symptoms. These can vary in severity, from mild to totally incapacitating. Overall, arthritis significantly contributes to reduced independence and quality of life to a similar extent to heart disease and cancer, particularly in women.

Osteoarthritis is not the inevitable and unavoidable result of the years of moving and loading the joints of the body. Our joints are designed to be highly resistant to mechanical trauma. However, when extra stresses are placed on them, due to injury, overloading or instability, this can eventually lead to ‘wear and tear’. Equally, if cartilage is abnormal, then even the normal stresses of daily use can grind the surface down.

What impacts osteoporosis?

With age, the surface of the cartilage becomes softer, while underneath its cushioning effects begin to lose their bounce. One factor involved in this change is the accumulation of AGEs, which make the cartilage structure more rigid. Other factors that influence the resilience of cartilage include gender, genetic predisposition, diabetes and obesity. Weight loss reduces the impact and progression of arthritis, as well as that of diabetes, a major risk factor for arthritis.

Regular physical activity is the best way to prevent arthritis. This may seem strange as exercise theoretically puts more stress, not less stress, on our joints. However, regular exercise improves cartilage quality, reduces pain and builds stronger muscles, thus taking more of the stress off joints in the long run.

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