Osteoarthritis vs Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella condition which have several types, subtypes, and variations, making it a vast and complicated disorder. It is described as either a painful or chronic inflammation of the joint that frequently exists alongside with structural damage of joints.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common types. Their symptoms may be similar, however, in order to select the most suitable and effective treatment, it is crucial to differentiate between them.

Osteoarthritis – OA (Degenerative Disorder)

This most prevalent type of arthritis is caused by cartilage breakdown, which is a consequence of degenerative joint disease. The term “wear-and-tear” arthritis is used to describe this type of arthritis. As time passes and the joints begin to rub against one another, this disease occurs as a result of degeneration of cartilage (the flexible tissue connecting the joints). When cartilage deteriorates, joints lose the cushioning necessary for most effective movement and elongation. The synovial membrane becomes inflamed as a result of this loss of support, membrane which covers the joint.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms:

• Pain and stiffness in joints
• Swelling
• Decrease ROM (Range of Motion)
• Bony spurs
• Cracking and grinding whenever joint moves
• little aches in the joints

Risk Factors/Causes :

Primary Cause:

• Genetic factor

Secondary Causes:

• Age
• Abnormal mechanical forces at joint, such as obesity and occupation
• Inactivity

• Joint injury, such as fractures
• Diabetes
• Overuse of a particular joint
• Malformed joints, such as knocked knees or leg length discrepancy

Affected Areas:

• OA affects the larger and weight bearing joints, such as:
• Knee
• Hip
• Shoulder
• Spine
• Hands
• DIP

Also Read: Knee Joint Anatomy: A Comprehensive Guide

Treatment:

The main goals of OA management are to control symptoms and enhance the function of the involved joint. Although OA cannot be cured, there are a number of therapy options that can decrease the pain and improve quality of life. The most popular forms of therapy consist of:

• Physical therapy
• Life style modification
• Pain management
• Non-steroidal-Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Intra-articular   injections   (Corticosteroids,   platelet-rich   plasma   (PRP), hyaluronic acid)
• Acupuncture
• Surgery (joint replacement)

Rheumatoid Arthritis – RA (Autoimmune Disorder)

It is a systemic autoimmue disorder. Considering this particular kind of arthritis can harm the respiratory and cardiovascular systems along with the other organ system of the body, that’s why RA is referred as a “systemic” disorder. The immune system of human body attacking the synovial membrane results in RA. The immune

system attacks the synovial membrane as if it were a virus or infection because immune system mistakenly consider the synovial membrane as a foreign particle.

There are several types of RA, such as

• Psoriasis arthritis
• Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis

• Risk factors/causes:

Prevelance:

• Genetic factors

Risk factors:

• Females
  • Obestity
  • Smoking
  • Occupational dust, such as silica
  • Air pollution
  • Low vitamin D

Symptoms:

• Symmtrical joint swelling
  • Joint tenderness
  • Pain
  • Morning Stifness
  • Positive RA factor
  • Fatigue
  • Functional disability
  • Warmth and redness around affected joint
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Deformad and instable joints
  • Decrease muscular endurance and strength
  • Weak hand grip
  • Sluggish gait
  • In RA the ligamentous laxity is very common in the cervical spine, mostly between the 1st & 2nd cervical vertebrae, which can leads to instability. Due to this pain and neurological symptoms, such as tingling in the fingers and headaches, may occur.

• Deformaties and disorders in RA are common, such as (swan neck, boutonniere, sublaxation of metacarpal joints, carpal tunnel syndrome and tenosynovitis)

Affected Joints:

• Symmeterical joints
• Smallar joints like hands, feet , wrist, ankle
• PIP & MCP Wrist joints

Treatment of RA:

Controlling the negative effects of the immune system on the joints and avoiding more damage are the key goals of RA treatment. As OA is not an autoimmune condition, treatment for it is typically more aggressive. The most common types of treatment involve:

• Physical Thaerapy
  • Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDS)
  • Pain management
  • Surgery

Several Disorders that Resemble Arthritis in their Symptoms:

• Mechanical low back pain/mechanical neck pain
• Polymyalgia rheumatic
• Tendinopathy
• Fibromyalgia
• Lupus

Schedule Your Appointment:

Everybody’s experience with arthritis is different. Are you curious about the potential benefits associated with physiotherapy for arthritis? Act immediately to manage your arthritis. Schedule your appointment with most experienced physiotherapist at Physio Resource, our physiotherapists will help you to start your journey towards mobility and pain management.

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