ask the pickleball doctor
Arthritis :
What is it , and how can you manage it ?
The majority of pickleball players are older
than 50 . Most pickleball players — though not all — transitioned to the game after years of playing many other sports . Age , combined with an active lifestyle , are high risk factors for developing arthritis in joints . Most people have heard of arthritis , or been told they have it , but often don ’ t know exactly what this means or represents .
Arthritis is a general term used to describe pain in the joints of the body . There are many types of arthritis , which can be grouped into four categories : degenerative , inflammatory , infectious , and metabolic . When people say they have arthritis , they are most likely talking about osteoarthritis ( OA ). Osteoarthritis is a degenerative type of arthritis and is the most common . The biggest risk factors are age , family history , previous injury , and excess weight . So , what is osteoarthritis ?
When two or more bones meet in the body , it ’ s called a joint . For example , the area where the femur ( thigh bone ) and the tibia ( shin bone ) meet forms the knee joint . Most bones in the body that form a joint are lined with connective tissue called cartilage . Cartilage ensures that bones are smooth , and glide without resistance on one another . For example , when your knee bends back and forth , the end of the femur slides on the end of the tibia , while the patella ( kneecap ) glides up and down in a groove in the femur . All three are coated with cartilage to ensure these bones can interact without any resistance , providing smooth motion that allows us to bend our knees without pain .
Over time , the layer of cartilage that lines the bones starts to wear out , exposing the surface of the bone underneath . As the degeneration of the cartilage progresses , the bones start to interact with each other more , and the cartilage continues to be damaged . Once enough cartilage has been damaged , the surface of the bones is no longer smooth , and movement can become painful or difficult . Weight-bearing joints , such as the hips and knees , are more susceptible when compared to non-weight-bearing joints such as the elbow . As we continue to perform our activities and put stress on these joints affected by OA , we can start to develop bony formations called osteophytes ( bone spurs ), which decreases the smoothness of the joint even more , making motion even more difficult and painful . So , what can you do to address osteoarthritis ? There are four stages of osteoarthritis : minor , mild , moderate , and severe . For minor to moderate stages , you may start with a conservative approach to treatment — physical therapy and dietary changes in order to manage the symptoms . It ’ s important to note that our bodies don ’ t produce new cartilage efficiently , which means damaged cartilage rarely heals by itself . Stem cell therapy is improving , and the ability to develop new cartilage will eventually become a reliable option . Right now , however , it ’ s still too early , and expensive , and the results are inconsistent when it comes to regenerating lost cartilage .
The best approach to treating mild to moderate osteoarthritis is regular exercise , involving strengthening as well as regular non-weight-bearing exercises ( such as biking and swimming ). This will ensure that the joints don ’ t get overloaded , while still getting ample movement , providing joints with increased blood flow and lubrication . This helps decrease inflammation and