what is Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis – isn’t all arthritis the same?

Arthritis is used as a general term to describe stiffness, pain, and inflammation in the joints but in truth there are many types of arthritis which produce differing symptoms.

In this blog post we are going to focus on two types of arthritis - Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. They both affect joints in the body but in very different ways.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

OA is a degenerative type of arthritis where joint cartilage breaks down over time causing stiffness, swelling and joint pain. This is the most common type of arthritis and usually affects larger weight bearing joints such as the hip, usually on one side of the body.

It is more common as we get older and after previous joint injury or surgery. Having a higher BMI, diabetes or previous gout attacks are also risk factors for OA.

The pain can feel worse with activity and better with rest and affected joints can produce pain at night.

The symptoms can take years to build as the arthritis develops slowly over time. As the OA progresses, bone spurs and subchondral cysts can develop on the joints which can be seen on MRI scans.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

RA is an inflammatory type of arthritis caused by the body attacking its own tissues, producing inflammation. It is an auto-immune condition. It usually affects smaller joints such as the fingers and symptoms are usually symmetrical occurring on both sides of the body at the same time.

Symptoms can come on very quickly and can vary in intensity. Affected joints can feel very painful, stiff, and swollen and can get worse with rest and better with movement.

RA usually runs in families and is 2-3 times more common in women. As it is an inflammatory condition, blood markers for inflammation such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are usually high, along with a positive Rheumatoid factor (RF).

Alongside the musculoskeletal symptoms, RA can cause symptoms in the rest of the body such as tiredness, high temperature, sweating and dry eyes.

Treatment

It is worth having a full assessment and getting an accurate diagnosis for your symptoms so you can find the best course of treatment for you.

For both OA and RA early detection can be helpful so treatments and advice can be introduced, hopefully reducing the risk of joint damage and overall impact of the condition.

In many cases, RA requires medication such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatoid drugs (DMARDs), steroids and other biological treatments.

Physical therapy such as Osteopathy can also help to treat the symptoms associated with arthritis. At the clinic we help people with various types of arthritis with treatment, advice and exercises all centred around the individual’s needs. If required, we can refer for testing and imaging but often this is not necessary.

If you’d like more information or think we could help you, please contact us today.

By Stephanie Gammell. M.Ost. General Osteopathic Council Registered

Nutrition tips for marathon runners

RUNNING THE MARATHON? 

Here are some vital nutrition tips:

1.   STAY HYDRATED

It’s really important to be hydrated for the marathon. The trick is in the preparation. You don’t want to be making lots of toilet trips during the race! Drink plenty the week before and in the morning 700ml will do, avoiding any for the hour before the race.

Make sure you have water throughout the run, but don’t feel the need to drink constantly. The most recent research suggests it’s best to drink when you are thirsty. This helps avoid over-hydrating and can also reduce gut discomfort and improve performance on the day. Coconut water is also a great natural alternative to the energy drinks in replacing lost hydration, sugars and electrolytes during the race.

2.    FAT THEN CARB LOADING GIVES MORE ENERGY

Research has shown that a diet (short term) high in fat before you embark on the more traditional pre-race carb loading offers great benefits for increased energy. 10 days of fat loading are enough to increase the muscles fat burning capacity, while the three day carbohydrate load ensures muscles have plenty of glycogen available for energy.

In the fat loading days, start 2 weeks before the race and aim for 65% of your total calorie intake from foods containing healthy fats. These could be avocados, cheese, eggs, salmon, whole milk, Greek yoghurt, nuts, olives and olive oil. In the carb loading days, start 3 days before your race and aim to get 70% of your total calories from carbohydrates.

3.    DRINK BEETROOT JUICE

Beetroot juice is packed with dietary nitrates, which dilate blood vessels, increasing blood flow to muscles during exercise. Studies have shown that drinking 500ml of beetroot juice 2-3 hours before running can enhance performance. Try it on a couple of training runs before your marathon day and see if the red juice helps.

REMEMBER YOUR NUTRITION IS FUEL
Getting it right can really make the difference not only in performance, but your enjoyment of the day. Good luck and fuel smart.

Written by Stephanie Gammell M.Ost FAFS
Functional Osteopath at Back to Back – The Earlsfield Osteopath