On World Arthritis Day 2024, India’s high orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ashok Rajgopal talks concerning the improve in arthritis instances and associated knee substitute surgical procedures.
Arthritis is an umbrella time period for a number of well being circumstances that trigger ache, stiffness and swelling in joints, that are the assembly level of two bones in a physique. As many as 100 forms of arthritis exist, and the most typical forms of arthritis worldwide embrace osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Instances of each these types of the situation have witnessed a steep improve globally. In response to the World Well being Group, from 1990 to 2019, there was a marked improve of 113 p.c instances of osteoarthritis worldwide. And in 2019, 18 million folks worldwide have been dwelling with rheumatoid arthritis. Ladies are extra vulnerable to the situation as a result of a number of elements. However being conscious of threat elements in addition to early indicators and signs of arthritis, might help folks search well timed intervention to enhance their high quality of life, asserts senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ashok Rajgopal, who has carried out over 39,000 whole knee substitute surgical procedures and over 60,000 arthroscopic surgical procedures for sports activities accidents throughout his profession.
On the event of World Arthritis Day 2024, Well being Photographs interviewed Dr Ashok Rajgopal, at the moment Group Chairman, Institute of Orthopaedics at Medanta, to debate the prevalence of arthritis in ladies, the prevention and administration of this well being situation, and why whole knee substitute surgical procedures are on an upswing.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. Arthritis is commonly thought of an inevitable a part of getting older, particularly for ladies. How true is that this, and the way a lot will be prevented by proactive measures?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Arthritis is marked by joint ache, irritation, stiffness, and lowered mobility. Analysis reveals that ladies are twice as seemingly as males to develop arthritis, and three.5 occasions extra more likely to endure from knee arthritis, which is the most typical cause for knee substitute surgical procedure.
Taking easy steps to stop the development of arthritis might help maintain it from impacting our every day lives. The situation is linked to a number of threat elements, each modifiable and non-modifiable. Whereas we can’t management the non-modifiable elements, managing the modifiable ones might help cut back the chance of arthritis. Sustaining a balanced eating regimen, managing your weight, and staying bodily lively are key methods for avoiding knee points.
Q. The ladies-to-men ratio of arthritis instances is kind of skewed globally. What are the first threat elements that make ladies extra vulnerable?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Ladies have extra probabilities of getting arthritis than males, as a result of anatomical variations. Ladies have broader hips (to help with childbirth), which results in an irregular limb alignment when in comparison with males. This causes elevated stresses throughout the knee joint which can result in arthritis. Ladies’s joints are additionally extra versatile, making them extra vulnerable to accidents and subsequent arthritis. Genetics additionally affect the event of arthritis. In response to research, sure genes can elevate the potential for having arthritis. Ladies with a household historical past of arthritis are additionally extra vulnerable to get affected.
Q. What’s the position of hormonal modifications, particularly throughout post-menopause, in accelerating the onset of arthritis in ladies?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: There’s a potential hyperlink between oestrogen and cartilage, which acts as a cushion between the joints and the bones. Oestrogen protects the cartilage from irritation, however as oestrogen ranges drop after menopause, this safety disappears, predisposing them to arthritis of the knee.
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Q. Knee substitute surgical procedures are rising globally. What’s contributing to this improve?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: There are a number of causes which have helped increasingly more arthritis sufferers select whole knee substitute surgical procedure — the gold normal for the therapy of superior knee arthritis — over a lifetime of ache, dependence and immobility. Higher-designed implants, higher supplies, newer applied sciences, improved entry and consciousness have improved affected person outcomes, contributing to the rise within the variety of knee substitute surgical procedures being accomplished globally. Higher post-operative rehabilitative methods imply sufferers recuperate sooner and extra successfully.
Q. It’s clear that technological development has revolutionised knee substitute surgical procedure, and the restoration interval for sufferers. What are some current improvements that you’re most enthusiastic about as a specialist on this subject?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Robotic-assisted whole knee replacements have helped enhance surgical accuracy within the positioning and the alignment of the knee. This know-how additionally helps steadiness ligaments and cut back the chance of unbalanced knees. These enhancements over guide surgical procedure have helped significantly enhance affected person satisfaction, and high quality of life.
Q. Are 80s a protected age bracket for knee substitute surgical procedure?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: There isn’t a particular cut-off age and older sufferers can profit from knee substitute surgical procedure as a lot because the youthful ones. Longer lifespan, enhancements in medical science and higher entry imply an growing variety of folks need to and have the choice to retain their high quality of life properly into the superior years. Most individuals on this age bracket dwell regular, wholesome and lively lives after present process knee substitute surgical procedure. Nevertheless, you will need to bear a medical analysis in session with the physician to find out the very best process for relieving arthritis-related ache and signs.
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Q. Well being is greatest protected earlier in life. For ladies of their 30s and 40s, what early indicators of arthritis ought to they look ahead to?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Whereas ladies are extra vulnerable to arthritis, the chance will be mitigated by early consciousness and proactive steps. Understanding the warning indicators and threat elements — comparable to menopause, household historical past, and weight administration — might help ladies take cost of their joint well being earlier than arthritis turns into extreme. In case you are experiencing joint ache or stiffness interfering with actions of every day dwelling, don’t ignore your arthritis signs. Common train, sustaining a wholesome weight, and well timed medical steerage can considerably decrease the chance of arthritis-related issues.
Q. On condition that this situation usually results in lowered mobility and high quality of life, what position do bodily exercise and eating regimen play in each stopping and managing the illness?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Weight problems is a well-established threat issue for arthritis. Partaking in common train might help, with actions like strolling, biking, and yoga. Weight-reduction plan additionally influences arthritis threat, and sure vitamins, comparable to omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, have been linked to a decrease chance of growing the situation. Omega-3 fatty acids, recognized for his or her anti-inflammatory properties, are present in plant and nut oils like walnut, soybean, flaxseed, and olive oil.
Q. Psychological well being is commonly neglected in such circumstances. What recommendation would you give to ladies managing the emotional toll of arthritis, particularly when mobility is compromised?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Stress and nervousness are widespread amongst sufferers coping with arthritis-related circumstances. Persistent ache and problem with motion can intensify these emotions, usually leading to lowered curiosity in every day actions, low power, and lowered focus ranges. Regardless of this, staying lively and training self-care are important. Methods comparable to meditation, music remedy, artwork, and social engagement might help handle signs. Above all, it’s essential for sufferers to seek the advice of their physician usually to maintain the illness underneath management.
Q. What are your high 5 every day practices to keep up bone well being and total wellness?
Dr Ashok Rajgopal: Common train, wholesome consuming, slicing down on sugar, oil and salt, managing stress adequately, and sustaining a great work-life steadiness are all essential to musculoskeletal well-being.
