Osteo Arthritis & Rheumatoid Arthritis
What is osteo arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of a joint in the body. It occurs when the joint surfaces become worn, and the underlying bone tissue becomes deformed. The term “wear & tear” is commonly used in association with this type of arthritis.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis include stiffness/restriction of movement/sometimes swelling/pain.
One of the main causes for the degeneration of a joint is where excessive mechanical stresses are placed on it – i.e. poor posture in the workplace, poor training methods in sports, lack of regular flexibility exercise for which yoga is strongly recommended.
What is Rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis differs from Osteo arthritis in that it is an inflammatory condition that attacks the connective tissues around joints. Connective tissues are joint capsule/membrane, ligaments/tendons. It also affects the synovial fluid that lubricates the joint surfaces.
Symptoms include heat/swelling/stiffness/pain/ deformity. Usually it is the smaller joints throughout the body that are affected – hands/feet/vertebrae from the neck.
The cause of Rheumatoid arthritis is not known; however, several possibilities are suggested such as genetic, viral, hereditary, diet,