The knee joint is one of the common locations of osteoarthritis. According to Dr. Vuong Due, specialist in Orthopedic Trauma, Nanjing Combined Central and Western Hospital (China), many people still have certain misunderstandings about joint diseases, especially whether exercise actually damages joints or not.
Arthritis is not synonymous with osteoarthritis
Many people think that arthritis and osteoarthritis are one, but in fact these are two not completely identical concepts. Arthritis is a general term referring to inflammatory diseases that occur in the joints and surrounding tissues, including many different forms of disease. Among them, osteoarthritis is a common form, mainly related to the degeneration of joint cartilage and secondary changes in bone.
Osteoarthritis is common in middle-aged and elderly people, women tend to get more than men. The disease often appears in joints that have to bear heavy loads such as knee joints, hip joints, spine and finger joints.
So how to recognize joint problems? Dr. Vuong Due suggests remembering 5 signs including redness, swelling, heat, pain and limited movement. Some cases of acute arthritis, especially due to infection, can cause the joint area to be red and swollen. The inflamed joint may also be hotter than normal. Pain is one of the common manifestations, while swelling and damage to tissues around the joint can limit mobility.
When these abnormal signs appear, patients should go to the doctor to determine the cause instead of self-diagnosis or self-treatment.
Moderate jogging is better than sitting a lot to protect joints
A question that many people are interested in is between sitting a lot and jogging, which activity is harmful to the knee joint more? Many people think that jogging will make the joint quickly "worn out", so choosing to sit a lot and limit movement to protect the joint. However, a study published in the Journal of Orthopedic Trauma Physical Therapy and Sports shows remarkable results.
According to this study, the rate of arthritis in the recreational jogging group is about 3.5%, while the competition jogging group is 13.3% and the less active group is 10.2%. The above data shows that jogging with appropriate intensity does not necessarily harm the joints. Conversely, both prolonged sedentary lifestyles and exercise with excessive intensity can increase the risk of joint problems.
According to Dr. Vuong Due, for healthy people, jogging at a moderate level can bring benefits to joint health. The important thing is to choose an intensity suitable for the physical condition, gradually increase the level of exercise and avoid overexertion.
In other words, protecting the knee joint does not mean sitting still or limiting movement. The joint needs to be exercised appropriately to maintain function, and the muscles around the joint also need to be strengthened to support the joint and reduce pressure during movement.
In daily life, everyone should combine work and rest reasonably, avoiding joints being overloaded for a long time. Office workers or people who sit often should stand up, walk and change their posture after a period of time, instead of sitting continuously for many hours.
Besides, maintaining a reasonable weight is also very important. Overweight and obesity put more pressure on the knee joints in activities such as standing, walking, climbing stairs and jogging. Weight control is therefore also a way to reduce the burden on the joints.
When the weather is cold, people with joint diseases should also pay attention to keeping their bodies warm, especially the joint area that is showing symptoms. However, this is only a supportive measure and does not replace examination, diagnosis and treatment when necessary.
