Hand osteoarthritis and prevention methods.
Osteoarthritis of the hand (OA) is one of the common joint diseases in older adults, causing pain and significantly affecting mobility and quality of life.
Normal hand and arthritic hand.
There's an old saying, "Wealth lies in the eyes, poverty in the hands." Hands are very skillful, flexible, and an incredibly effective tool for labor. However, in Vietnam, osteoarthritis accounts for 14% of cases, ranking fourth among the most common types of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is often associated with aging.
The average age of patients with osteoarthritis is 60-65 years old. However, symptoms of osteoarthritis begin to appear from the age of 55. The incidence of osteoarthritis increases with age, higher in the age group of 60 and above, and highest in the 70-79 age group. Older age is the highest risk factor for osteoarthritis; it can be said that the older a person gets, the less blood supply to the joints, the more pronounced cartilage aging becomes, making the cartilage less able to withstand harmful factors affecting the joints.
Furthermore, elderly people still have to work extra to earn a living, taking care of household chores such as laundry, babysitting, and other domestic tasks. They mainly do manual labor, creating conditions for osteoarthritis to develop. Secondly, the disease is also more common in women (75%).
The cause may be due to hormonal changes such as estrogen, leading to changes in articular cartilage cells. Thirdly, obese people are also more prone to osteoarthritis of the hand. Up to one-third of osteoarthritis patients are obese. Fourthly, osteoarthritis of the hand often appears after certain hand conditions such as trauma, fractures, and osteonecrosis.rheumatoid arthritischronic gout, diabetes...
What are the signs and symptoms of THKBT?
The right hand is more prone to degeneration because most of us are right-handed and use our right hand more in daily life, work, and activities. Of the five fingers, the thumb, index finger, and middle finger (fingers I, II, and III) are most commonly affected by degeneration, as these fingers are the most actively used when holding, grasping, carrying, or lifting objects.
Among the joints of each finger, the thumb root joint is most commonly affected by osteoarthritis, due to its frequent use in gripping objects. In particular, the thumb root joint, with its saddle-shaped structure, is responsible for the hand's gripping function, making it more susceptible to injury. Currently, the role of occupational factors in thumb root osteoarthritis in women has been definitively demonstrated.
Patients complain of pain in one or both hand joints, characterized by mechanical pain—meaning pain during movement and relief during rest. Pain intensifies when dressing, buttoning, clenching the fist, and pouring water into a glass, and subsides with rest. The pain is usually mild to moderate. In the morning, upon waking, the joints are stiff and difficult to move, lasting 15-30 minutes. Stiffness after rest is also common. This is a sign of joint degeneration. Gradually, the hands become more difficult to perform daily activities, producing crackling sounds during movement, and the hand muscles atrophy.
In the later stages, one-third of patients have deformed fingers. This is due to the presence of bony spurs, growing at the distal phalanges (Heberden's nodules) or proximal phalanges (Bouchad's nodules), affecting aesthetics. Approximately 50% of patients with OPCs experience difficulty performing self-care tasks, household chores, and other daily activities such as brushing hair, washing clothes, dressing, eating, drinking, caring for children, and holding grandchildren. There are four basic signs of OPCs: osteophytes, joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis, and osteophytes. Hand X-rays may be used for definitive diagnosis.
What can be done to prevent HIV/AIDS?
Heavy labor and lifting should be avoided. The hands should not be used continuously for extended periods. Family members and the community should show concern and share the burden on the elderly. The use of assistive devices for work and daily activities should be increased whenever possible. Early detection of hand osteoarthritis is essential, as it allows for early treatment and minimizes the consequences of the disease. If symptoms such as hand joint pain, joint deformity, morning stiffness, or limited hand movement occur, a consultation with an orthopedic specialist is recommended for timely advice and treatment.
According to Health & Life - NT
