Osteoarthritis: a public health problem. What does it have to do with a sedentary lifestyle and deformities? – Maria Laura Garcia presents A Tu Salud

Osteoarthritis: a public health problem. What does it have to do with a sedentary lifestyle and deformities?

To talk about this, we were accompanied by Dr. Rafael Arcia, a traumatologist at the Children’s Orthopedic Hospital.

Living with joint pain, swollen and even deformed knees, to the point of instability, a high likelihood of falling and limited walking, is much more common than you think, since osteoarthritis is a disease that causes all of these symptoms. According to WHO epidemiological data, more than 300 million people worldwide suffer from it.

This was stated by Dr. Ramon Vallenilla, a trauma surgeon, specialist in joint replacement and preservation, coordinator of the sports injuries committee of the Venezuelan Society of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology (SVCOT).

“A person with osteoarthritis is an economic burden on their family and society because it is not only the medical costs of diagnosis, treatment, physical therapy, alternative treatments and even surgery plus comorbidities, but also the weight of being out of work. consequently, reduce labor productivity, not to mention the need to stop work earlier than usual.”

Obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and old age (over 65 years) are considered risk factors for osteoarthritis, so the specialist points out that promoting physical activity and controlling body weight are of paramount importance.