If you are familiar with online purchases, you have most likely heard of Amazon and how they have gone to great lengths to disrupt local stores, like Best Buy. They have gone so far as to promote smart phone applications that allows people to price check merchants in real time, so the consumer can get the best deal.

While the home medical industry is nowhere near as advanced, the fight between traditional lift recliner merchants and online lift chair stores is quite similar. And, it is often possible to instantly price check a traditional medical supply store, by visiting online merchants.

Advantages of Traditional Lift Chair Stores

While from strictly a cost perspective, it is hard to beat an online lift chair reseller, as their operating costs are typically lower, the one thing they lack is a physical show room. Since for most seniors, buying a new lift chair is a big purchase, being able to try out different options and see how they work before actually purchasing them is a big selling point. As a result, a brick and mortar medical supply store, which will almost always offer a lift recliner show-room, can be a great place to start the shopping process.

Another factor that a local lift recliner store has going for it is that in some cases, although this largely depends on the size and sales volume of the store, it is possible to purchase the lift recliner right away. While shipping times are usually very low to begin with, being able to go from sitting in a lift recliner to taking it home is a nice selling point. However, depending on what lift recliner the senior is shopping for and the options required, this is not always possible, even with a local medical supply store.

Free setup and local support is also, in certain cases, available and easier to obtain when doing business with a local merchant, so this can be a concern as well.

Advantages of Online Lift Chair Stores

One of the biggest advantages of buying a lift chair online is the cost! It is almost always possible to get a better deal when buying online than it is from a local lift recliner store.

In part, the lower cost is due to a different sort of operating cost, as online lift chair stores are almost always just drop-shipping the chair from popular lift chair manufacturers, like Golden Technologies. As a result, they are paying salesman and people to work on their website, rather than having to deal with the costs of running a traditional business.

Having said that, don’t be afraid to negotiate! You can always ask if the local seller will be able to match online prices or if they offer any added value!

Another advantage of using an online lift chair store is that the selection offered is almost always much greater than what you can see at a local lift chair showroom. Of course, both have access to the same products and lift recliners, but a lift chair website will typically offer an easier way to browse online lift chairs, sometimes even offering lift chair reviews.

What Type of Lift Recliner Store is Best

Whether one type of lift recliner store is better is largely a subjective choice and, as shown above, they both have advantages. Just like some people goto Best Buy to check out a product, only to buy it cheaper online, some folks also do this with lift chairs. Although, the morality of this is up for debate, the fact remains that as a consumer, getting the best deal is important.

In most, the pain is described as chronic, with the effectiveness of treatments varying greatly from person to person.

Since pain is such a basic and common symptom of arthritis, reducing pain is almost always a part of arthritis treatment. Medications, like NSAIDS and pain medication, as well as physical therapy, are often a part of the arthritis treatment. However, since pain can be a very personal thing, it is a good idea to find ways of reducing arthritis pain on one’s own.

The effectiveness of any single pain treatment varies, but many people find that heat and cold, massages, exercise, and water therapy can all be effective at helping to live with arthritis pain.

Heat and Cold

One of the most common myths about arthritis is that a specific climate, like a very hot or very cold, is a factor that reduces the effects of arthritis. However, warmth and cold, when applied to a joint, is soothing to some people and can help with joint pain.

Heat pads, as well as hot water bottles or hot baths, can help relax muscles, while both cold and hot has the effect of improving circulation. Cold packs, a bag of frozen peas, or a bag of ice wrapped in a towel, serve to provide a cold compress and can be applied similarly to the joints.

The effectiveness of heat or cold varies greatly from person to person and often requires some experimentation. It is relatively safe, although due to the way it affects circulation, those with circulatory disease should consult their doctor first. There is also the risk of damage to the body due to extreme temperatures, like a burn, so it is important to be conscious of the temperature of the hot or col pack.

Body Massage

Body massage can be effective not only at soothing muscles, but also as the result of the positive effect human contact can have on mental health. Lotions and creams are also often used, which are designed to sooth sore muscles.

Massage is a very natural reaction to pain and, for many, is the first thing done when an injury occurs. When treating arthritis, this can help reduce inflammation by spreading out fluids in the joint.

With that said, when done improperly, massage can also result in serious injury.

It is a good idea to avoid chiropractors in general, as they often end up being a money pit and are not actual medical professionals, despite their claims.

Often, their treatments and adjustments end up doing damage to the body, despite sometimes providing limited relief.

Water Therapy

Water offers the advantage of allowing people to stretch and exercise muscles, without putting a lot of strain on the body. In many ways, it is like being weightless, which can be a very safe and healthy way to exercise.

Jacuzzis and other spa like treatments can also help with arthritis pain, tying into the hot/cold principals described above.

There are a few medications that can be gotten over the counter, but most physicians will also prescribe medications to treat arthritis. Medications can be used to treat most symptoms of arthritis and are usually the first line of defense before a hip replacement or other arthritis surgery.

A Word of Caution

Before taking any medication, it is very important to talk with your doctor regarding side effects and the effectiveness of the treatment.

It is important to be wary of treatments and nutritional supplements found online, which will often state that they are effective at treating or even curing arthritis.

However, there is no cure for arthritis and, aside from fish oil, there have been few, if any, direct nutrients that are generally agreed to help treat arthritis. There are, however, countless websites and product manufacturers that would lead you to believe otherwise!

Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs(NSAIDs)

Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, or NSAIDs, are one of the most common medications prescribed by doctors and can be used to treat a variety of types of arthritis, although they are usually most effective with inflammatory arthritis. Most NSAIDs work to block chemicals in the body that cuase inflammation.

NSAIDs are usually not prescribed right away, but rather as a more advanced type of treatment for later stages of arthritis.

Ibuprofen, as well as naproxen and ketoprofen, can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies, however the rest require a prescription.

While NSAIDs can often be very effective at treating the symptoms of arthritis, they can be rather expensive and carry several serious health risks. Most health risks of NSAIDs are related to kidney and stomach related issues, as well as, in certain cases, needing to be taken multiple times each day.

Several NSAIDs are available as topical agents, which are applied to the affected joint and absorbed through the skin. They take longer to take affect and do not remain in the joint as long, however they offer a smaller health risk than NSAIDs do.

COX-2 Inhibitors

COX-2 Inhibitors are another type of anti-inflammatory medication that, like NSAIDs, suppress some of the natural chemicals in the body that cause inflammation.

Many of the side effects of NSAIDs are related to the blockage of COX-1, which is an enzyme that naturally occurs in the body.

COX-2 Inhibitors offer a different, and arguably, more effective way of treating inflammation, while not having as negative of an effective on the kidneys or stomach.

However, there are indications that they may increase the risk of circulatory disease in certain individuals. There have also been several COX-2 Inhibitors that were pulled from the market over the past five years, so it is important to discuss potential health risks and how long the drug has been available with your physician.

Analgesics

Analgesics are a type of pain medication, with acetaminphen, or Tylenol, being the most common. Analgesics are typically available over the counter and often serve as a first line of treatment against arthritis, in part because they can be effective at reducing arthritis pain, without major side-effects.

Analgesics can also be taken frequently throughout the day, although there is a slight risk of damage to the liver.

Also, especially as the disease progresses, Analgesics are not overly effective at treating arthritis pain.

Corticosteroid Therapy

Corticosteroids can be used to treat inflammation and are actually very effective at reducing arthritis. However, they also have a number of very serious side effects, such as increased risk of ulcers, diabetes, osteoporosis, and circulatory problems.

As a result of the dangerous side effects, Corticosteroids, which are usually injected into the affected joint, remain a very controversial treatment.

Osteoarthritis is one of the more common types of senior arthritis, which often result in significantly reduced mobility and the use of home medical tools, like recliner lifts. A big part of how osteoarthritis affects the body is related to which joint is affected by the disease.

Osteoarthritis, sometimes referred to as osteoarthrosis, in many cases, results in bone spurs that are caused by bones in an affected joint rubbing directly against each other. Over time, cartilage in these joints is lost, resulting in bones of the joint coming into contact. This can cause small fractures in the joint and as these fractures heal, the bone can become deformed.

For simplicity’s sake, the ball and socket joint type, which is found in the hips and shoulder is often used to describe how a joint works. However, there are several different types of joints, which have an impact on how osteoarthritis develops. To understand how osteoarthritis affects these joints, it is important to understand how the joints work.

Functionality of the Hip Joint

Unlike many other joints in the body, under normal circumstances, the range of movement of the hip is rather small, typically around 40 degrees. Factors such as body weight and rate of motion play a role in how much force is applied to the hips.

While walking, there are two main parts, the stance and swing phase. During the stance phase, which compromises approximately 60% of our walking cycle, the foot is in contact with the ground, moving from heel, to flat foot, and finally to the toe pushing off of the ground. As the swing phase begins, the leg moves forward, then the stance phase begins again with heel contact.

During typical walking patterns, there is a short period where both feet are on the ground. This time period decreases as the rate of walking increases, with no double support being present when running. Due to the way the bones moves within the socket, not all areas of cartilage make contact with joints, which can result in these areas not receiving enough nutrition from mucopolysaccharide ground substance, while areas in consistent contact with the joint actually are less likely to develop arthritis. This observation seems to backup the idea that safe and regular movement of a joint is important for developing arthritis.

Functionality of the Knee Joint

Unlike the hip, which only has approximately 40 degrees of movement, the knee has a much higher range of motion, almost 140 degrees, although during walking, the average range of motion is closer to 70 degrees. It is also a much more complicated joint, which is thought to be one of the reasons that osteoarthritis of the knee is more common.

The knee is an essential part of the walking cycle and movement typically begins just prior to the toe pushing off from the ground, continuing into the forward gate cycle. As is the case with the hip, leg muscles and tendons are essential for movement of this joint, with a reactionary force that is comparable to up to 700% of body weight.

Knee osteoarthritis will most often develop at the joints of highest stress in the knee, which support the majority of the weight bearing load on the knee. Damage to the knee joint most often occurs during high impact sports, which involve higher than normal force on the joint, as well as increased flexion. This can put more stress on areas of the joint that do not normally make contact with bones, which are at an increase risk of damage.

While degenerative joint disease or arthritis has been the go-to term to describe this medical condition for many years, some researchers feel that osteoarthrosis provides a more accurate description of the disease. This is because the term arthritis by definition alludes to a disease that causes inflammation. However, in osteoarthritis, inflammation is not usually the most prominent symptom.

Instead, typically inflammation in osteoarthritis occurs as a complication of the disease itself, with bone spurs being the more direct symptom of osteoarthritis. In osteoarthritis, the area around a joint, which is normally protected by cartilage and tissue, degrades, allowing the bones to rub directly against one-another. Over time, small fractures, often called microfissures or microfractures, develop on both bones in the joint, which results in new bone growing. The new bone is the result of the body attempting to heal the microfractures, causing increased bone density in the joint and the formation of bone spurs.

In the past, researchers have believed that indications of osteoarthritis can be found as far back as the jurasic period, which dates the disease at over a hundred and fifty million years old. However, this belief is not completely accurate, as the evidence suggests a similar disease of the spine, while osteoarthritis is defined as a disease around joints that move.

Over time, typically in quite severe instances of osteoarthritis, cartilage will completely disappear, leaving the bone areas rubbing directly upon one-another. In instances where the cartilage is functionality gone, eburnation will usually occur, which involves the affected bone becoming grooved or polished. However, like the distinction between osteoarthritis vs osteoarthrosis, where the implication of the term is that inflammation is a main symptom, which is not typically the case, eburnation is not a direct symptom of arthritis. Eburnation can be caused by other diseases and is the result of near-complete cartilage loss in a joint.

Cartilage and the Role of Joint Type in Osteoarthritis

In the body, the main function of cartilage is to provide lubrication and free movement between joints. However, moving the joints also results in movement of the fluids around the joint, allowing the area to receive important nutrition to the joint. In the joint, mucopolysaccharide ground substance helps maintain a healthy joint, however in a joint that has been damaged, such as by injury or diseases, the ground substance does not move as freely, resulting in quicker cartilage decay.

Another factor that can result in damage to the joint is bone elasticity, as even though bones look and feel quite solid, they actually act as shock-absorbers. As humans move, cartilage provides a way for two separate bones to move together, transferring much of the actual force to the bone. However, as bone density increases, more of the force is transferred to cartilage, contributing to faster degradation of the cartilage. Increased bone density often occurs after a severe bone injury or tramua, as well as less obvious bone injuries , including microfissuring.

Obesity is also often considered to be a factor of degenerative joint disease, however, much of this has to do with the joint itself. For instance, arthritis in the ankle is quite uncommon, especially when there has been no serious injury to the ankle or foot. However, arthritis of the knee is far more common, despite both areas being weight bearing. The major difference between these areas is the type of joint, with the ankle being far less complex, as well as much more compact.

Since knees and hips are some of the more common areas affected by arthritis and can be some of the most debilitating areas to be affected, orthopedic surgery is the most common type of arthritis treatment. This often involves hip, knee, or shoulder replacement, although there are also less severe arthritis surgeries preformed, like clean in out a joint or fusing a bone.

Joint Fusion

Joint Fusion, which is also referred to as arthrodesis, used to be one of the most common types of arthritis treatments. It involves removing most of the joint and securing the two bones directly together.

The idea is that once the joint heals, it prevents the bones from rubbing together. However, since the other joints around it must work harder, it can have the effect of putting more wear and tear on the surrounding joints.

Arthrodesis is no longer as common as it was in the past, but is sometimes used in the toes or wrist, as well as sometimes in the ankle. Joint fusion is still quite common for treating back pain and other back problems, although it carries with it a very large risk.

Hip Replacement

The process of completely replacing a joint, which is called arthroplasty, is the most common type of arthritis treatment. More than a hundred and fifty thousand hip replacements are preformed in the United States each year, with a success rate of around 90%.

In seniors, a hip replacement will often last over twenty years, although this is less for a more active individual.

Hip replacement was preformed in the sixties and seventies, but with limited success. Today’s hip replacements use an improved version of the devices developed during this time.

While quite effective and offering a major improvement to mobility for many people, hip replacements are a major surgery and longer recovery time.

Shoulder Replacement

In a shoulder replacement, which is most common among those with osteoarthritis, it is not as common for increased mobility or range of motion to occur as it is in a hip replacement. However, most will experience a significant reduction in joint pain.

Since the ball and socket of a shoulder is much shallower than that of a hip, if the bone has worn down significantly, a shoulder replacement may not be possible.

Knee Replacement

The knee is one of the, if not the, most complex joints in the body. Older versions of the artificial knee were much less effective and more hinge-like, rather than a close replications of an actual knee. As a result, range of motion was often greatly reduced. Developing an artificial knee was quite difficult and only over the past few years has a joint that allows reasonable mobility been developed.

In addition to complete replacement of the knee, it is sometimes possible to replace only a portion of it. However, these replacements last for only around 10 years, where a knee replacement can sometimes last longer than a hip, or over twenty years.

Replacing Other Joints

The hip, shoulder, and knee is the most common type of arthroplasty. However, other joints, like the elbow, knuckle, ankle, and wrist can be replaced. While some of these, especially the knuckle replacement, are quite common, others like the wrist are far less common and would more likely be fused, rather than replaced.

Joint Washing and Synovium Removal

In many types of arthritis, small pieces of bone and other substances can form in a joint, which can make movements very painful.

However, this procedure is not typically washing out in the sense that you would wash out your pickup-truck bed, but rather the removal of theses pieces of bone using microscopic cameras and surgical tools.

Synovium removal involves removing the fluid around the joint, which is called synovium and can often contain inflammatory chemicals. This is, in many cases, not as effective as other treatments, but can slow the spread of arthritis.

Lift recliners, or lift chairs, are a type of durable medical equipment that is designed to help the user stand up or sit-down safely and easily. Most provide a sitting experience similar to a lazy-boy recliner like chair, while utilizing a lift system that raises and lowers the chair and its occupant.

As an aside, when attempting to receive reimbursement for a Medicare lift recliner, the only part that is covered is the lifting system of the chair, which you can read more about here.

Identifying Important User Characteristics

One of the most important steps when shopping around for a lift recliner is to find a device that will fit the body type of the senior, or other individual that will be using the chair.

The weight and height of the user are the two biggest factors that determine what type of lift recliner can be used. These important user characteristics are not only important for providing a comfortable lift chair, but also for ensuring user safety. This is because lift chairs are engineered with specific heights and weights in mind.

For instance, adhering to the height rating is essential for safety. Using a lift recliner designed for someone much shorter could result in the lift recliner not raising high enough to safely exit, whereas a device designed for someone much taller could raise much too high for the user.

On the same token., exceeding the weight capacity of the lift recliner can increase the amount of strain on both the frame of the device, as well as the electric lifting motor. However, unlike the height limit, it is okay to use a lift recliner that is designed for a larger weight class than you.

The dimensions of the seat are also important and can be related to comfort, but also play a role in safety. The seat size is important, as transferring into and out of the chair easier and also ensures that the user will not develop bed sores or other skin irritations.

It is a good idea to review the measurements of the chair itself, which is usually provided by the manufacturer as measurements like the height, depth, and width of the seat. Using the provided measurements, it is possible to compare them to an existing chair, to get a feel for the overall size provided by the lift recliners seat.

Comfort and Style

While ensuring the lift chair is a safe match for the user’s body type is very important, it is also important to go with a lift chair that has adequate padding and is pleasing to the eye. It is not uncommon for a cheap lift recliner, like the entry-level models offered by Golden Technologies or Pride Mobility, to have minimal padding in the seat and backrest, as well as a lower quality fabric.

As a result, unless you are really on a budget, it is a good idea to take into account the amount and type of padding, as well as the fabric offered by the chair. This, along with the dimensions of the seat and height from the ground will be most important when finding a lift recliner that is both functional and comfortable.

Most also like to find something that is visually pleasing and there are a number of different colors, as well as types, of fabric to choose from.

This process is not only simply more difficult for the senior, but can also increase risks for falling and injuring oneself during the process of standing. Using a standing aid is one way that this risk can be mitigated and there are a number of different types of lifting aids that can be used in the home.

What is a Lift Recliner?

A lift recliner, or lift chair, is a lifting aid used in the home to make it easier for a senior to stand and sit. These devices replace the traditional recliner, offering the same sorts of comfort, such as reclining backrest and a comfortable footrest. However, they are not simply a comfortable sitting chair, but also provide a means for the user to standup or sitdown, on their own.

Within the base of the lift recliner itself, a lifting system is placed that is used to raise and lower the chair, user and all. When the lift recliner has been fully raised, the senior can simply back into the seat in a standing position and then transition their weight to rest against the seat as they lower it. When sitting, the powerful lift system can raise the entire chair and user to a position that allows the senior to exit on their feet.

Generally, due to their design, lift recliners are used in the living room, as this is the most logical place for a sitting chair, but the only real requirement, aside from being away from water and the elements, is that they are near an electrical plug to ensure the device can be powered on.

For more on lift recliners, you can view our lift recliner faq

Toilet Seat Lifts

Bathroom safety should involve a number of steps, like making sure there are sufficient grab-bars throughout the bathroom, non-skid mats on the floor, taller toilets, and reducing the number of sharp edges on counters, since there are so many areas that can increase the risk for a fall.

As part of reducing the risk for a fall in the bathroom, many also use a toilet seat lift.

Toilet Seat Lifts are designed to make it easier to get onto and off of the toilet. They generally replace the normal toilet seat, with one that is operated by an electrical motor and can help raise the user off of the toilet.

Depending on the model, some toilet seat lifts can be installed with little modification to the actual toilet itself. Many also include built in grab-bars, although this should not be a replacement for installing grabbars throughout the bathroom area.

Smaller portable toilet seat lifts are also available, which are sometimes used by those who are traveling, staying with a relative, or at a hotel.

Bathtub Lifts

While getting onto and off of the toilet, as well as getting into a sitting chair, can be very difficult for a senior, often safely entering and exiting the bathtub can be the most difficult task.

This is because the senior must basically get onto and off of the floor, navigating a two-foot tall wall in the process.

Increasing safety at bath time is very important and often, it is recommended to use a walk-in bathtub, with a shower bench or aftermarket shower chair. Non-slip mats are also important around the bathtub and within the tub itself.

However, using a bath-tub lift is also an option. Bathtub lifts come in a few different styles, but generally install within the bathtub itself and provide a way of raising and lowering the senior to the height of the bathtub wall.

Typically, they install without modification to the bathtub, using strong suction cups. Most provide a plastic chair, often reclining, which is lifted by a water-proof lift system. However, inflatable bathlifts are also available.

Patient Lifts for Caregivers

The above lifts generally would be used by seniors who are able to stand and get around on their own, albeit with difficulty. While caregivers will often use these sorts of lifts to help make their work easier, the senior should still be able to walk around or at least stand. However, in some cases, it is necessary for a more powerful and comprehensive lifting system.

In these cases, Hoyer Lifts, which are very powerful lifts that can raise the patient into and out of bed are implemented. These lifts are often on locking wheels, so they can be moved around the home, as well as allowing for slight pivoting, to make transferring into and out of bed possible.

Tracked lift systems, which allow users to move along a track installed in the ceiling are also an option, allowing a user or caregiver to easily move a patient through the different rooms in a home, making things like transferring into the shower much easier.

Ultimately, like most types of arthritis, the exact causes of osteoarthritis are not completely understood. Relationships between use of the joint, injury, and obesity have been found, as it is a type of degenerative arthritis and these risk factors put more stress on the joints. However, there are still many unknowns when it comes to osteoarthritis research.

There is currently no cure for this rheumatoid disorder either, but, like other types of arthritis, there are many treatments that can help prevent the disease from getting worse. There is also a good deal of promising research that involves providing the body with a mechanism to help regrow cartilage around the joints, as osteoarthritis results in damage to this built in shock-absorber. However, these studies are still very much in their infancy and far from being qualified for public use.

Osteoarthritis and Woman

While both men and women develop osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative arthritis, sometimes called wear and tear arthritis, it is most common among females. This is true of other types of arthritis as well, such as rheumatoid arthritis, with women being at a much higher risk for developing arthritis.

The exact reason behind this increased risk of developing arthritis in women is not known, but aside from a few types of, relatively, rare arthritis, like seronegative spondyloarthropathies, women are much more likely to contract these types of diseases.

In regards to osteoarthritis, women are much more likely to get osteoarthritis in their hands and the small joints of their fingers. There has also been a protein related to embryo development, called FRZB , which when experiences a defect, increases the risk for osteoarthritis in the hip in women.

Osteoarthritis versus Osteoporosis

Many of those who have osteoarthritis, also have osteoporosis, but a more direct link has not been identified yet.

Like osteoarthritis, women face a much higher risk of contracting osteoporosis, which is a disease that affects bone density. In someone with osteoporosis, calcium loss in the bones results in a reduction of bone strength, making a bone fracture much easier.

Often, the relationship between these two medical conditions, is more of a predatory one. For example, since people with osteoporosis can break their bones much easier, it is not uncommon for an arthritis related fall to result in a broken hip or bone.

In some instances, osteoarthritis can also make it harder to diagnose osteoporosis, as the arthritis results in bone growths that can mask the loss of bone density.

One of the major differences between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis is how it affects the joints. Unlike in RA, where an autoimmune response leads to inflammation of the joints, osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative arthritis. It is often referred as a wear and tear arthritis, as most of the theories on the causes of osteoarthritis are related to use of the joint.

In someone with osteoarthritis, the cartilage around the joints wears down and deteriorates, which can eventually lead to the bones of the affected joint to rub directly against one another. Inflammation is often a symptom of this type of arthritis, but is usually secondary and the result of the effects of the disease.

As the disease develops and the bones of the joint begin to rub against one another, bone growth will often accelerate, which can lead to abnormal bone growths and deformity. It is also common for small pieces of bone to break off in the joint and cause inflammation of the joint and cartilage.

There are a number of risk factors associated with this type of arthritis, but the most common are previous injuries, occupation, obesity, and age. Genetics has also been shown to play a role in developing osteoarthritis, although this is likely not as big of a risk factor.

Previous Injuries

Whenever a joint is injured, such as from a broken bone, the risk for developing arthritis later in life is increased. Those that develop osteoarthritis have often had a previous injury in the affected joint and, as a result, will develop osteoarthritis in one of their joints and not the other.

Those who have birth deformities, such as being born with a dislocated hip, are also at an increased risk for osteoarthritis.

Occupation

While the exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, most scientific explanations revolve around wear and tear being a factor in developing this type of arthritis. Studies have found that people in certain occupations are more likely to develop osteoarthritis in their weight bearing hips.

For example, farmers and soccer players are both at an increased risk for developing osteoarthritis, likely as a result of frequent repetitive joint motions and the effects of high-impact exertion on their joints.

Obesity

Like a persons occupation, being overweight can also put increased stress on an individuals joints. This is especially true of weight bearing joints, like the hips and knees, but also other joints in the body.

Those that are overweight put a great deal more stress on their joints, more than they can safely support. Over time, this can lead to the joints deteriorating at a faster pace than they would normally. High-impact exercises, like running, and even regular exercise will result in a significantly larger amount of pressure being applied to weight bearing joints and cartilage of those who are overweight, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis.

Genetics

A person’s genetics can also play a role in developing certain types of osteoarthritis, especially in smaller joints like the hands. Other factors, like congenital hip deformity and other birth defects, which typically are hereditary, also increase the risk for osteoarthritis. These risks are largest in females, with women also generally being more at risk for arthritis.

In particular, spondyloepiphysea dyslasia, which is a type of spinal deformity, is linked to a very rare type of osteoarthritis, which has been identified in the genetics of several family lines. So, while relatively rare, there are at least a few direct examples of osteoarthritis being tied to a family line.

Age

Age is also a risk factor for developing this kind of arthritis, which is the most common type of elderly arthritis. It is believed that among seniors, small cracks and fissures may develop in cartilage, as the result of reduced amounts of joint fluids. This reduction of fluid can make the joints more brittle, which results in the small fissures and deterioration of cartilage.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis often results in joint pain and can lead to deformities. Often pain is the first indication of this type of arthritis and it is common for the hip or groin to ache. In many who experience this pain, the location of it is far enough from the joint that it is not initially associated with possible arthritis pain.

Many people experience discomfort during damp and cold weather, as well, although this varies from person to person. It is common to experience joint pain in the morning’s and evening’s as well. This is usually only temporary and will often subside within around a half hour.

Often, small red bumps, which are related to inflammation, will appear around the affected joint. Initially they will be quite painful, but it is common for this pain to subside and the joint simply be left deformed.