You may hear these terms when you’re at the doctor, the physio or even out to dinner with your friends. But it can get confusing as to which one is which. Is it osteoarthritis that runs in the family or is it osteoporosis? Is there a difference?
Read on to find out more.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease. The changes occur over time throughout your life. For some people it can start earlier than others but it occurs in everyone eventually.
Cartilage is a soft padding over the ends of your bones at the joints. It helps the joint to move without the bones grinding on one another. However, it’s ability to repair is limited. Which means damage to the cartilage (an acute tear, or damage over time like arthritis) is difficult to heal.
Osteoarthritis is a thinning of this cartilage over time and damage to the bone beneath. The most common symptoms are:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Reduced mobility
It is typically sore after exercise or activity but can progress to hurt at rest or with minimal activity. The most commonly affected joints are the fingers, back, knees and hips.
Management is multifactorial and includes a wide range of techniques. Some of these include:
- Weight loss
- Activity modification to reduce load through the joint
- Exercises to strengthen the muscles around the joint
- Medications
Osteoporosis and Osteopenia
Osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones, causing them to become brittle and at an increased risk of breaking. Unlike osteoarthritis, osteoporosis does not have any symptoms until a bone is broken. It doesn’t hurt or restrict activities of daily living, but there is a high risk of fracturing a bone if you fall, or in some cases doing simple things such as sneezing or picking up something heavy.
Research has shown that impact and loading exercises can improve your bone density and help with osteoporosis. This includes resistance exercise with weights and weight bearing exercise. Whereas osteoarthritis is often better with non-weight bearing exercise. Management also includes prevention of falls through balance and exercise training.
Osteopenia is also a loss of bone density but not as severe as osteoporosis. Being diagnosed with osteopenia is the early warning flag for you to take action about your bone health before it progresses into the next stage.
Everyone’s condition and their exercise requirements are different. After you have discussed your diagnosis with your GP, visit our Physiotherapists at Back In Motion Mentone to find out which exercises would be right for you.
For a free assessment with one of our qualified physiotherapists to discuss your condition and an exercise program, please call 9583 1149 or CLICK HERE to book online.