Heavy weight, improper use of the knee, beware of knee osteoarthritis.

Who would have thought that being overweight and overusing the knees with incorrect posture could lead to faster knee osteoarthritis? Because most people believe that knee osteoarthritis only comes from aging.

Therefore, now that we know knee osteoarthritis can result from many factors, it’s time to take care of your knees. What should you do to help reduce the chances of developing knee osteoarthritis? What symptoms indicate a problem that requires seeing a doctor? And if you have it, how is it treated? Let’s get an exclusive understanding with Prof. Dr. Keerati Charoencholwanich, consultant physician at the Muscle, Bone, and Joint Center, Phyathai 3 Hospital.

Is knee osteoarthritis really a disease only for the elderly?

Primary knee osteoarthritis (Primary OA knee) has been commonly found in the elderly, caused by age-related degeneration, but nowadays it can be found in younger people, such as middle-aged individuals, due to various factors like being overweight, overusing the knees, or using them incorrectly. This leads to faster knee osteoarthritis than usual.

Knee osteoarthritis (Knee Osteoarthritis) results from the degeneration of the cartilage surface of the knee joint. When the cartilage is gone, the bones rub against each other under weight-bearing, causing knee pain. It can be caused by known factors (Secondary Knee Osteoarthritis) or unknown factors (Primary Knee Osteoarthritis).

Degeneration of unknown cause comes from age-related cartilage wear, such as

• Age: As age increases, typically around 40 years and older, degeneration begins. At 55 years and older, knee pain and degeneration start, and by 60 years, up to 40% may have knee osteoarthritis.
• Gender: Women have a higher chance of developing knee osteoarthritis faster than men.
• Genetics: Patients with family members or relatives who have knee osteoarthritis have a higher chance of developing it, although there is no direct genetic inheritance pattern.
• Excess weight: Increases the risk of knee osteoarthritis due to greater weight bearing on the knees.
• Heavy knee use: Using the knees incorrectly or maintaining positions that stress the knees for long periods, such as standing for long periods, lifting heavy objects, frequently climbing stairs, sitting cross-legged, or kneeling.
• Joint problems: Loose knees, weak thigh muscles.

Degeneration with known causes (Secondary Knee Osteoarthritis)

Certain diseases such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, various types of arthritis, or injuries causing impact, especially accidents involving the knee or ligaments.

…See, knee osteoarthritis is not just a problem for the elderly…

Signs or symptoms indicating you have knee osteoarthritis problems

Knee osteoarthritis usually develops slowly in 4 stages

• Stage 1 Still able to perform all activities normally
  
• Stage 2 Unable to perform heavy work
  
• Stage 3 Able to perform daily activities
  
• Stage 4 Unable to walk

We can see that in stage 1, life is still normal, which is one reason why knee care is often neglected. So, let’s look at some simple signs that indicate you need to take care of or seek treatment for your knees.

• Knee pain: Frequent knee pain when moving, such as walking up or down stairs, kneeling, which improves with rest. The pain may come and go but lasts for more than 6 months.
• Knee stiffness or locking: Often occurs after waking up or after a period of inactivity, feeling stiff, locked, or difficult to move the knee for a while, then gradually improving.
• Knee sounds: When the knee starts to degenerate, noises can be heard from the joint during movements like straightening or bending the knee.
• Knee tingling, swelling, warmth, tenderness: Feeling tingling in the knee when walking or moving. Some may have swelling, warmth on touch, and increased pain when pressing on the knee.
• Knee deformity, thigh muscle wasting: These signs indicate clear degeneration, such as bowing outward or inward, thigh muscle wasting and deformity causing leg shortening, resulting in pain when walking or moving.

Observing your own knee osteoarthritis symptoms helps you take care and seek appropriate treatment. If you are at stage 1, you can manage yourself by adjusting behaviors and using proper posture when standing, walking, and sitting. If you are at stages 2-4, you should see a doctor for proper treatment.

Additionally, beyond the above signs indicating you need knee care, there are certain pain characteristics that signal you should see a doctor immediately. These include severe knee pain even at rest, knee pain with swelling and bruising, indicating severe inflammation, radiating pain down the leg, and inability to fully bend the knee.

Treatment methods for knee osteoarthritis include

1. Behavioral modification and non-drug methods such as weight loss, exercise, and proper knee use
2. Physical therapy such as ultrasound and laser treatment
3. Medication, both oral and injectable
4. Surgical treatment, which includes the following methods

• • Arthrodesis (surgery to fuse the joint surfaces)
  • Arthroplasty (knee replacement surgery)
  • Osteotomy (bone realignment surgery)

Surgical treatment is chosen by doctors when behavioral modification, physical therapy, and medication do not improve symptoms or when there are indications for surgery. Doctors will carefully evaluate and examine the patient to select the appropriate surgical method together with the patient. All treatments aim to relieve pain, restore walking ability, and improve quality of life.—

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