Osteoarthritis in the elderly tends to increase more and more. Osteoarthritis causes pain, swelling, and joint stiffness. If not treated early, the symptoms tend to get worse.
Treatment of osteoarthritis in the elderly
Osteoarthritis in the elderly tends to increase more and more, especially as we enter a fully aging society. Osteoarthritis causes pain, swelling, and joint stiffness. If not treated early, the symptoms tend to get worse.
Since each patient may respond differently to treatment, and treatments that initially work may not work in the future, it is important to talk to your doctor about the right treatment for you. เล่นเกมคาสิโน UFABET ทันสมัย ฝากถอนง่าย Patients may need to use a combination of treatments to regain their quality of life.
Initial treatment methods can be divided into non-drug and drug-based treatment methods.
6 Ways to Treat Osteoarthritis Without Medication
1. Exercise
Many people may have heard the belief that exercise will make osteoarthritis worse. But in reality, exercising and moving frequently will help strengthen the function and strength of the muscles, increase the range of the joints, and help make the joints stronger and more stable. Exercises suitable for patients with osteoarthritis include walking, swimming, tai chi, and yoga. In addition to helping control body weight, it also helps treat patients’ underlying diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.
2. Weight control
If a patient is overweight, controlling their weight by eating a balanced diet and increasing exercise can help reduce knee pain. It has been found that losing 0.5 kilograms of weight can reduce the pressure on the knee by 2 kilograms. Patients should consult their doctor about appropriate weight loss methods.
3. Physical and occupational therapy
Physical therapy is a treatment that uses cold, heat, ultrasound, or electrical currents to relieve pain, as well as stretching and exercises to strengthen muscles, improve balance, and improve mobility.
Occupational therapy focuses on teaching patients to return to their daily routines on their own, such as dressing, bathing, and using the toilet. Both physical and occupational therapy can help increase strength and prepare them for the use of walking aids.
4. Walking aids
Knee braces, compression stockings, knee pads, canes, walkers, crutches, and other orthotic devices can help reduce pain, improve mobility, increase balance and stability, and reduce the risk of falls.
5. Physical and mental therapy
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Dealing with pain for a long time can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. People with pain can learn how to relieve themselves from stress and anxiety through breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and meditation to manage their emotions, which can help them relax, sleep, and improve their overall health.
6. Joint protection
Joint protection is a technique that helps protect joints from potential harm from daily activities. Let the patient know when to stop the activity before feeling pain in the joint. Joint protection can help reduce pain and the risk of injury. Examples of joint protection methods include wearing healthy shoes, not standing or sitting in the same position for a long time, distributing weight equally on the knee joints when walking, stretching muscles, learning how to lift objects properly, reducing activities that may make the pain worse, stopping activities before feeling too tired, or using various devices to help with daily activities.