Osteopath Tim Allardyce spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk about the early warning signs of arthritis, in particular, osteoarthritis – the most common form of the disease. “Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory degenerative condition that causes pain in the joints,” Tim explained. He added that the “most commonly” affected areas are the knees and hips.
However, the condition can affect any moveable joint, from the jaw to the shoulder, to the finger and toes.
Additional bone growth on the joint is a common feature of the disease.
“This is usually due to cartilage loss, so the body lays down additional bone and this causes joint stiffness,” Tim added.
When it comes to hip osteoarthritis, one telling sign is if you experience “difficulty to bend to put your socks on”.
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Tim remarked that “pain is another common finding” in terms of osteoarthritis symptoms.
However, it must be noted that not everybody will experience pain if they don’t encounter inflammation.
If you do suffer from painful and stiff joints, Tim shares his expertise on how to alleviate such symptoms.
“The first is to get mobile,” he said. “Joints love to be moved.”
Osteoarthritis
The NHS stated: “It most often develops in people in their mid-40s or older.
“It’s also more common in women and people with a family history of the condition.”
The national health service highlighted that management of the condition includes maintaining a healthy weight.
In addition, people are encouraged to wear “suitable footwear”.