Deck 6 (Week 7) Flashcards
Musculoskeletal Conditions- Arthritis
Breaking down the word, what does arthritis mean? (Think pre/suffixes)
Arthro- joint
itis- inflammation
What are the 2 types of arthritis?
Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
What is Osteoarthritis and list the main common symptoms.
The gradual abrasion of the articular cartilage layer
also known as “wear and tear” arthritis
Main symptoms would include: Localised Pain, Inflammation and Joint Stiffness
In an Osteoarthritic knee, what characteristics regarding the cartilage, bone and meniscus would we typically see?
In osteoarthritic knees, we could see one or more of the following:
- Exposed bone
- Eroding meniscus
- Eroding cartilage
- Bone spurs (bony growth along the edges of bones and can potentially cause pain/damage to surrounding tissues)
Which body parts most commonly see replacements in cases of Osteoarthritis?
The knees and hips.
How can X-rays help identify issues with bones?
1) X-rays can showcase sites where joint spaces are narrowing.
2) You can see where the bone is more dense or frail depending on the ‘brightness’ or ‘opacity’ of the colour white on the X-ray
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis and is it an autoimmune disease? Additionally, list some major symptoms.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Chronic Autoimmune Disease characterised by joint inflammation and destruction
The body perceives tissue as being ‘foreign’ and its immune response breaks down ‘normal’ tissue, replacing it with non-functional scar tissue
Some symptoms include but are not limited to:
1) Deformities of hands and feet
2) Pain and redness at the joint sites
3) Low grade fever (side effect from inflammation)
4) Limited ROM due to lowered joint mobility
5) Prolonged morning stiffness
Apart from the knees and hips, where else would we typically see arthritis on the body?
The hands, feet and spine.
What are 4 medications an individual with Osteoarthritis could use to manage their condition?
1) Pain Relief
2) Anti-inflammatories
3) Corticosteroids
4) Hyaluronic Acid (injected straight into joint where there’s compromised levels of synovial fluid)
Why should we avoid using bed resting as the primary form of treatment? How long should someone exercise weekly?
Avoiding bed rest as the primary treatment form will limit decline in joint function!
Bare minimum 75min/week but arguably should aim for 150min/week
Even though rest shouldn’t be the primary treatment method, why is it still important? (Think in the scope of exercise program making)
Rest should be used as a program variable and used as a form of recovery.
To be used within an exercise program but the main focus should be on getting the patient moving functionally.
At what point should someone with Osteoarthritis consider Cartilage Replacement Therapy or surgery?
Can utilise synthetic hydrogels or a chondrocyte implantation when bone starts to come into contact with another bone.
Can also consider a joint replacement surgery which now lasts around 20-30 years.
Apart from NSAID’s and Pain relief medication, what other medications would Rheumatoid Arthritis patients use to manage their condition?
1) Immunomodulators (changes body’s immune response)
2) Glucocorticoids (steroid hormones that help regulate glucose, protein and fat metabolism)
List some ways we can minimise the chance of developing osteoarthritis.
1) Avoiding weight gain
2) Being aware of gait/biomechanics
3) Use quality form and safe lifting techniques
4) Avoiding injury (prehab or properly adhering to rehab program)
5) Supplements where needed
For a clinical and pre-exercise physical assessment, what should we look to measure in arthritis patients? (Think about measurements/scales etc)
X-rays and MRI’s can detect the degree of swelling and joint damage
Measuring HR, ECG, RPE, Dyspnea/Angina scales
Remember that patients are often velocity limited
