Increasingly common among middle-aged people as well, knee osteoarthritis is no longer seen simply as ‘the wear and tear of old age’ and begins to require early strategies to preserve mobility and quality of life.
Pain when climbing stairs, difficulty walking long distances, feeling of stiffness when getting out of bed or persistent discomfort after physical activity. Symptoms like these are becoming increasingly common in orthopedic offices, especially related to knee osteoarthritis.
Traditionally associated with aging, the disease also began to appear in younger, physically active adults, driven by factors such as excess weight, physical inactivity, previous sports injuries and an increase in the population’s life expectancy.
According to the World Health Organization, osteoarthritis is among the leading causes of disability in the world. The knee is one of the most affected joints, precisely because it bears a large part of the body’s load throughout life.
The problem is that many people still see osteoarthritis as an inevitable consequence of age and end up delaying diagnosis and treatment. This can accelerate loss of mobility and significantly compromise quality of life.
Osteoarthritis no longer only affects the elderly
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the progressive wear and tear of joint cartilage, accompanied by inflammation, bone changes and gradual loss of joint function.
Although aging continues to be one of the main risk factors, today there is already a significant increase in cases in middle-aged people, especially in those who have suffered ligament injuries, meniscus tears or repetitive impacts on the knees throughout their lives.
Furthermore, the growth of obesity also plays an important role. Each extra kilo significantly increases the load on the knees, favoring inflammation and progressive wear and tear on the joint.
The result is an increasingly active population, living longer, but also living with chronic joint pain for more years.
Pain interferes far beyond walking
Many people associate osteoarthritis only with mechanical knee pain. But the impacts of the disease tend to be much broader.
As the condition progresses, simple tasks can become difficult: getting up from a chair, getting into the car, exercising or even standing for a long time.
In many patients, pain leads to a reduction in physical activity, causing muscle loss, weight gain and worsening joint stability. This creates a progressive cycle of functional limitation.
In addition to the physical impact, osteoarthritis often affects mood, autonomy and social life. Studies show an important association between chronic joint pain, anxiety, sleep disorders and reduced quality of life.
That’s why early diagnosis makes such a difference.
Identifying the problem in the early stages allows you to initiate strategies capable of reducing inflammation, preserving movement and slowing the progression of wear.
Today, it is known that keeping the patient moving, in a guided and safe manner, is a fundamental part of the treatment.
The current focus is to preserve the joint for as long as possible
In recent years, the treatment of osteoarthritis has undergone important changes. The idea that the patient would only have two options – live with the pain or get a prosthesis – is losing ground.
Currently, there are different less invasive approaches aimed at controlling pain, functional improvement and joint preservation.
Depending on the stage of the disease, treatment may include physiotherapy, muscle strengthening, weight control, targeted physical activity, specific insoles, medications, joint infiltrations and regenerative therapies that are still being studied and developed.
Strengthening the muscles around the knee, for example, helps reduce overload on the joint and improves stability and mobility.
Intra-articular infiltrations have also evolved in recent years and can be used in selected cases to control symptoms and improve function.
It is important to make it clear that no treatment completely stops joint aging. The current goal is to reduce pain, preserve movement and delay the need for surgery as much as possible.
Prosthetics remain an extremely important solution for advanced cases, but modern medicine is increasingly seeking to extend the useful life of the natural joint.
The most important thing is to abandon the idea that experiencing knee pain is a normal part of aging. The sooner the patient seeks specialized evaluation, the greater the chances of maintaining mobility, independence and quality of life for many years.
Dr. Pedro Debieux Vargas Silva – CRM/SP 121.778 | EQR 73,908
Orthopedist
PhD at the Federal University of São Paulo
Postdoctoral at the University of Connecticut
Membro da Brazil Health
