Osteoarthritis in Women: Development, Treatment, and Physical Activity

This report delves into the topic of osteoarthritis in women, a common condition affecting millions globally. It explores the disease's development, symptoms (including pain, stiffness, and swelling), and causes, with a focus on how lack of physical activity impacts women. The report highlights the benefits of aerobic exercises like walking, swimming, and cycling in preventing and managing osteoarthritis, particularly for knee arthritis. It also identifies various types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis, and discusses associated risk factors such as obesity, heredity, and joint overuse. The methodology involves a literature review, and the discussion centers on how osteoarthritis can be diagnosed, avoided, and treated at early stages, emphasizing the importance of physical activity and moderate loading exercises for joint health. The report concludes with recommendations for women to incorporate regular exercise into their routines to improve their quality of life and reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis In Woman And
Physical Activity
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Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
Topic – “Osteoarthritis in woman and physical activity”................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Aim of the study.....................................................................................................................3
Objectives of study.................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
Understand about the Osteoarthritis.......................................................................................4
Various symptoms and causes of occurring Osteoarthritis....................................................4
How aerobic exercises can help prevent or treat osteoarthritis in women.............................5
Different types of arthritis from which an individual may suffer..........................................6
Different risk factors associated with osteoarthritis that can increases the risk for individual7
The way osteoarthritis develops in woman, how it affects woman due to lack of physical
activity and how it can be diagnosed, avoided or treated at early stages...............................8
METHODOLOGY........................................................................................................................10
Search strategy......................................................................................................................10
PICO Question......................................................................................................................10
DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.............................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17
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Topic – “Osteoarthritis in woman and physical activity”
INTRODUCTION
Osteoarthritis is a common condition that can affect any joint in body. It is the most
common kind of arthritis that affects millions of individuals all over the world. It happens when
protective cartilage which cushions ends of bones wears down over the time. It is most possibly
to affect joints which bear weight of the body like feet and knees. The main symptoms of
osteoarthritis include pain, loss of flexibility, bone spurs, tenderness, swelling etc. This is a
dissertation report which is based upon the topic "osteoarthritis in women and physical activity".
The mean aim of this report is to interpret how osteoarthritis develops in women and how it can
be avoided or treated at early stages (Munukka, et al 2017). This project covers discussion about
osteoarthritis and the way it affects women because of lack of physical activity. It also discusses
about how it develops and the types of osteoarthritis along with the regions of body it mainly
affects. Apart from this, different types of arthritis are discussed and the main emphasis is given
on hip and knee region arthritis.
Aim of the study
The main aim of this study is “To interpret how osteoarthritis develops in woman and how it
can be avoided or treated at early stages.”
Objectives of study
The key objectives associated with this particular study are as follows:
1. To study and understand about the Osteoarthritis.
2. To identify various symptoms and causes of occurring Osteoarthritis.
3. To ascertain different types of arthritis from which an individual may suffer.
4. To determine different risk factors associated with osteoarthritis that can increases the
risk for individual.
5. To assess the way osteoarthritis develops in woman, how it affects woman due to lack of
physical activity and how it can be diagnosed, avoided or treated at early stages.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Understand about the Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a very common issue which many people are facing today, especially the
women. It can affect any joints of the body and mainly the joints which bear much of the weight
of body like feet and knees. The joints which are utilised by individuals a lot in daily life like the
joints of hand are also affected commonly (Gay, et al 2018). Cartilage covers the healthy joint,
which is a coating of tough but slippery and smooth tissue that covers surface of bones as well as
assist them to move freely against one another. When osteoarthritis develops in the joint, a part
of cartilage thins as well as the surface becomes rougher, which depicts that a joint does not
move as smoothly as it must be. When cartilage becomes damaged or worn, all the joint tissues
become more active in comparison to normal as human body tries to repair that damage. This
process may alter the joint structure, however, will often enable joint to work without any pain,
work normally without any stiffness. As an individual gets older, osteoarthritis develops in some
of the joints, though people mean not be aware of it (Foucher, Huang, and Aydemir 2021).
However, the processes of repair do not work always so well as well as the alterations to the
structure of joint can sometimes contribute or cause to symptoms like swelling, difficulty in
moving the joint or pain. For instance: the joint capsule lining may thicken and develop more
fluid then normal, it causes the joint to swell. The extra bone may form at edge of joint called
osteophytes. These bony growths can restrict movement sometimes or rub against other tissues.
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Figure 1: Osteoarthritis of the knee prevalence for local authorities in the West Midlands,
compared to England
As per the above statistics, in year 2011 - 2012, there were around 1,286 knee
replacements for individuals living in Birmingham at a cost of 8,066,331 pounds. And according
to the below provided statistics, there were around 1,013 hip replacements for individuals living
in Birmingham at a cost of 5,873,356 pounds.
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Figure 2: Osteoarthritis of the hip prevalence for local authorities in the West Midlands,
compared to England
Figure 3: The trend of the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis changes with age
Various symptoms and causes of occurring Osteoarthritis
The key symptoms of osteoarthritis include stiffness and pain in the affected joints. When
an individual moves the joint, it tends to be worsen. After rest, the joints may feel stiff, but it
usually wears off equitably quickly once an individual get moving. As per the view point of
David Zelman, (2020), It has been estimated that osteoarthritis affects around 27 million
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Americans and the possibilities of developing the disease maximizes with age. There are various
symptoms of the disease which often develops gradually. This includes stiffness after rest
periods, joint swelling, pain after long periods of inactivity, bony enlargements in end and
middle joints of fingers, joint aching etc. There are various factors which increases the chances
of an individual of developing osteoarthritis. Some of the causes are provided below:
Obesity - it increases osteoarthritis risk of spine, hip and knee. Maintaining ideal weight of
the body or losing excess weight may assist in preventing osteoarthritis or decline the
progression rate once osteoarthritis is developed.
Heredity - some individuals have inherited defect in genes which are responsible for
making cartilage. It causes the cartilage defective that leads to rapid joints deterioration. The
individuals who are born with joint abnormalities have more chances to develop osteoarthritis as
well as those individuals who are born with abnormality of spine have chances of developing
osteoarthritis in spine.
Joint overuse - the overuse of some joints maximize the risk of establishing osteoarthritis.
For instance, individuals in jobs needing repeated bending of knee are at high risk of developing
osteoarthritis of knee (The Basics of Osteoarthritis, 2020).
Injury - it contributes to the establishment of osteoarthritis. For instance, the athletes have
high knee related injuries. They are at high risk of establishing osteoarthritis of knee. Apart from
this, individuals who have had severe injury at the back might be predisposed to establish
osteoarthritis of spine. The individuals who have had broken bone near their joint are also close
to develop osteoarthritis.
How aerobic exercises can help prevent or treat osteoarthritis in women
These exercises strengthen the heart and make the lungs more efficient (Bricca, et al
2019). Aerobic exercise also reduces fatigue and builds stamina, while helping control weight by
increasing the number of calories the body uses. As per the view point of Ron Miller, (2018), the
individuals with knee arthritis get benefit from aerobic exercises, specifically low impact
exercise. The greatest benefit happened when aerobic exercise becomes a daily routine of an
individual. For the women who are suffering from mild to moderate knee arthritis, there are
some aerobic exercises like walking, swimming, biking, using elliptical machine, etc. which help
in preventing it. Walking is completely weight-bearing however still low impact enough for
various individuals. It can be done on treadmill or outdoors. Women with knee arthritis can get
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benefit by walking outdoors and help in preventing arthritis (Aerobic Exercise for Knee Arthritis,
2018).
Women with advanced knee osteoarthritis as well as other joint issues may also prefer
water therapy to swimming or land exercise. It administers similar health benefits to the women
as other aerobic exercises provides without placing much pressure on the knees. Regular physical
activity administers significant physiologic benefit to women with osteoarthritis. It can
counteract decline in muscular strength, endurance related to aging and fitness. It has been
depicted to prevent the functional limitations development or mitigate limitations progression
and thus, enhance quality of life in women. Regular physical activity doesn't maximize the risk
of developing osteoarthritis among women as well as certainly declines the risk for developing
some other chronic conditions like hypertension, thrombo embolic stroke, type 2 diabetes
mellitus, depression, colon cancer, obesity, breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Regular participation in aerobic exercise or physical activity can also decline falls and
injury associated with falls. It also prevents cognitive impairment as well as enhance the sleep.
The main aim of this exercise is to enhance the cartilage quality along with general health effects
that physical activity provides. Both under loading and overloading may cause degradation of
cartilage, but moderate loading has been demonstrated to be beneficial for the health of the joints
due to mechanosensitive chondroprotective pathways. But, these pathways require to be further
elucidated in order to determine the causation. On the basis of moderate loading benefits or
advantages, ergometer cycling for around 45 minutes and 2-3 times a week involving 30 minutes
on moderate loading,10 minutes warm up and 5 minutes cool down will be needed (Cheung,
Park and Wyman, 2016).
Different types of arthritis from which an individual may suffer
As per the view point of Nayana Ambardekar, 2020, some of the common type of arthritis
includes osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, gout.
Osteoarthritis - most of the people are suffering from this condition. It occurs when the
joints of an individual are overused and usually occurs with age. It can also occur from obesity
and joint injuries that put extra stress on joints. The joints which bear weights like feet, hips,
spine and knees are the common places affected by it. This makes the affected joint hurt and
individual lose the shock absorber of body. It also breaks down the cartilage which is the
slippery material which covers ends of bones. When the cartilage is damaged, it makes the
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movement painful and the individual may hear grating sound when roughened cartilage on bones
surface rubs together. The main symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain when walking, deep
aching pain, stiffness after resting, trouble dressing, gripping things, climbing stairs, combing
hair etc. relying on the joints involved and morning stiffness. The joints of the individual with
osteoarthritis may be swollen and hard to move, warm to touch and unable to move by full range
of motion.
Rheumatoid arthritis - it is the autoimmune disease in which immune system attack body
parts, especially joints which leads to an inflammation that cause severe damage to joint. Around
one out of 5 individuals who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis get lumps on skin which are
called rheumatoid nodules. Some most common symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis
includes a symmetrical pattern, pain, swelling and stiffness, morning stiffness and more than 1
swollen joint (5 Common Types of Arthritis, 2020).
Psoriatic arthritis - individuals with this type of arthritis have inflammation on joints and
skin. It causes patchy white and red areas of inflamed skin along with scales and usually affect
knees and elbows tips, scalp, skin around genital areas and the navel. This is the type of arthritis
which usually initiates between the age of 30 to 50 years, however it can initiate as early as
childhood. The symptoms associated with this type of arthritis include swelling on toes and
fingers. Apart from this, in some individuals, only one or few joints are affected and sometimes
it affects just the toes and fingers or spine.
Different risk factors associated with osteoarthritis that can increases the risk for individual
According to the viewpoint of Stacey Feintuch, (2021), osteoarthritis is one of the very
common and recognised types of arthritis that results of damage to overuse of a joint usually for
a longer period of time. Osteoarthritis occurs in an individual body when the cartilage that
cushions the ends of bones of a person in their joints gradually deteriorates. Due to this cartilage
wears down completely because of this bone will rub on bone. It is a type of disease that is also
termed as wear and tear disease. If the person cartilage is breakdown than osteoarthritis affects
the entire joints of a person that causes changes in the bone and deterioration of connective
tissues which is quite useful to hold the joint together along with joints the muscle with bone.
This also causes an inflammation within the individual person joint lining. There are several
factors which will affect the risk of osteoarthritis that are presented below:
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 Older age- It is one of the major risk factor that is associated with the osteoarthritis that
enhances the risk for individual person in relation to maintain body physically strong.
Age is one of the strongest non-modifiable risk factor. As per the research it is to be
notified that 18 percentage of women aged 60 years are having the osteoarthritis
symptoms but the doctors are not effectively identifying the risk behind osteoarthritis
affects.
 Joint injuries- It is another risk factor that is faced by an individual. Joint injury is
mainly related to the playing sports, a vehicle accident, any type of physical trauma, a fall
that can cause joint injury and reflects the osteoarthritis affects. This is to be linked with
any age group. Thus sports related knee trauma like strain and tear of ACL has linked to
increase the developing knee osteoarthritis affects.
 Weight- It is a risk factor that affects the issue of osteoarthritis in an individual person.
According to this research it is to be identified that if a person have excessive weight and
places extra stress than it will affects the individual knees and hips. As per the fact that it
is to be recognised that losing the 10 pounds can helps in managing the issue of
osteoarthritis in a person and also leads to improving the symptoms, pain, quality of life
and function of body.
 Bleeding problem- It is another risk factor that encourage the issue of osteoarthritis
within a person body. If a person has medical issue that includes the problem of bleeding
near a joint then it causes the osteoarthritis that also develops with time and finish the
body of person in recovery. If a person having haemophilia and avascular necrosis that is
may affects the symptoms that is associated with the osteoarthritis because blood is
irritating and really a destructive to the joint.
The way osteoarthritis develops in woman, how it affects woman due to lack of physical activity
and how it can be diagnosed, avoided or treated at early stages
According to the Ana Bracilovic, (2021), it is states that women are more likely to
experience joint pain, aching and stiffness that affect the osteoarthritis. Therefore, women who
belong to the age of 50 to 60 years having to develop the hand osteoarthritis as compare to men
of the same age group. According to the research it is to be identified that 40% of the women are
likely to develops knee osteoarthritis and 10% are suffer from developing the hip osteoarthritis as
compare to men. Due to the increased level of hormone during the certain stages of menstrual
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cycle develops the joint laxity that creates the joint injury. However, osteoarthritis will increase
within the women after significantly menopause due to which women feel joint pain. Another
way of developing osteoarthritis is increasing the tendency to carry excess weight. Due to extra
weight women causes more stress on load bearing joints such as hips, knee and ankles that
causes the damage friction between the bones of joints. However, obesity is linked with low
grade, systematic inflammation that contributes to the increment of osteoarthritis in any joints.
According to the viewpoint of “Liao and et. al., (2020)” there are several ways that are
diagnosed, avoided and treated to avoid osteoarthritis affects within women. In this exercising is
one of the best ways that individual women can perform when their joints are stiff and achy. As
exercise is the crucial part of osteoarthritis treatment in order to ease pain and helps in reflecting
the active body of a person. Osteoarthritis is a major disease that affects the loss of cartilage.
Cartilage is a bone that protects or covers the ends of bones where joint of bones are met.
Specifically there is no cure for osteoarthritis but a person can reduce the effect by developing
the habit of different types of exercise that helps in relieving pain. In this several range of aerobic
exercise that is beneficial such as motion or flexibility exercises, aerobic or endurance exercise,
strengthening exercise, Aquatic exercise, walking etc.
Range of motion and flexibility- is an ability to move the joints through full motions they
were designed to attain. It is merely possible with the aerobic type of exercise where full body is
moving. This exercise is also effective because it helps in presenting the body in flexible manner.
If a woman does this exercise on regular basis it stretching the movements. Doing regularly helps
in maintaining flexibility within the joints.
Endurance or Aerobic exercise- This exercise is highly suitable for the people who are the
victim of osteoarthritis disease. Doing this exercise on regular basis helps in strengthen the heart
and make lungs strong. The aerobics also helps in reducing the issue of obesity and uneven
hormone changes within women due to which risk of occurring osteoarthritis diseases is to be
eliminated. This exercise helps in deducing fatigue by developing the stamina that helps in
controlling weight with the increasing number of calories that the body uses. The best example
of this type of exercise is walking, jogging, swimming or using the elliptical machines.
Therefore, Aerobics is an integral part of prevention and treatment of the major disease that is
osteoarthritis. Research suggests that the older women especially with the age group of 45 to 60
do aerobics on regular basis so that they prevent with the cause of osteoarthritis. The basic
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dimensions of aerobics exercise are helps in developing the flexibility in bones that represent the
reason of muscle strength. Aerobics is individually tailored that helps in preventing from injury
and aggravation of osteoarthritis. This type of exercise is highly beneficial for the knee
osteoarthritis due to which the severe pain of joints are to be reduced. In this aerobic exercise the
low impact aerobic exercise can highly improvers the cardiovascular and overall functions of the
body that develops the sense of well-being, builds muscles and joints while protecting bones. In
terms of aerobic exercise, the good choice is bicycling, swimming, quick turns, basketball, tennis
etc. Swimming and pool exercise is an essential exercise that provides several types of benefits
to people who face the osteoarthritis disease. In this warm water is highly beneficial that
soothing the joints and muscles in effective manner and strengthen the muscles and joints.
METHODOLOGY
Search strategy
In order to perform critical appraisal on the topic, various articles are searched from
CINAHL website among which 6 articles are selected for critical appraisal. For performing
review, it is very crucial to undertake a well-developed strategy. In relation to this particular
study based on the title " Osteoarthritis in woman and physical activity", various keywords like
Osteoarthritis, aerobic exercise, physical activity etc. are used. These keywords helped in
acquiring more specific information on the selected topic. In this research, the search strategy
focuses on only those articles which are published in English language, the papers which are peer
reviewed as well as published in between the year 2012 to 2021. In this study, inclusion and
exclusion criteria are also taken into consideration. The study includes only the articles which are
published by authenticated websites like CINAHL. It also includes the articles which are not
older than 10 years and some specific keywords are utilized for searching the more specific
content on topic. This also help in collecting more reliable information on the topic.
PICO Question
PICO is a framework which is commonly utilized in order to formulate a focused clinical
question for systematic review. It stands for population, intervention, comparison and outcome.
It is a very assistive approach for summarizing the questions of research that discover the effect
of a particular intervention or approach or therapy in prevention and treating a particular disease
or condition. The PICO question in relation to this study is “How effective aerobic exercise and
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