It's like that when you're old...Arthritis, joint deformation, etc. are caused if the treatment is missed
Sep 15, 2025
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Lee Byung-hoon, a professor of orthopedic surgery at Gachon University Gil Hospital, explained that if there is an abnormality in the joint, it should be diagnosed and treated early to prevent diseases such as joint deformation and improve the quality of life.
Arthritis is a typical musculoskeletal disease in which ▲ pain ▲ stiffness ▲ movement disorders occur due to damage to cartilage in the joint or inflammation in the joint.
This arthritis can be divided into two main categories: degenerative arthritis (ostoarthritis) and inflammatory arthritis. Degenerative arthritis occurs when articular cartilage gradually wears out due to aging or repeated joint use. It is common in areas where you gain a lot of weight or use frequently, such as knees, hip joints, and fingers. As a representative aging disease, more than 60% of the population aged 65 or older in Korea is known to suffer from the disease.
Inflammatory arthritis is caused by immune system abnormalities or metabolic problems. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and ankylosing spondylitis. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by symmetrical pain in the small joints such as hands and wrists, and stiff joints for more than an hour in the morning. Gout causes sudden and extreme pain as uric acid builds up in the joint.
Professor Lee said "Arthritis is not just aging, but a complex result of various factors" and "Squatting, kneeling, repetitive joint use, obesity, family history, and joint alignment abnormalities such as O legs all put a burden on joints, which can lead to arthritis."
He then added that "Obesity is a must-treat treatment because it advances arthritis faster not only by weight burden but also by hormones that cause inflammation in the body."
In arthritis, like other diseases, genetic factors are important, especially in the case of inflammatory arthritis, people with a family history need to be more careful.
◇Arthritis causes joint deformation if treatment is missed
Arthritis begins with early simple joint pain or discomfort, but if left unattended, symptoms can worsen and joint deformation can occur.
Major symptoms of arthritis include ▲ Pain when moving the joint ▲ Knee pain when moving up and down stairs ▲ Heat sensation in the joint, swelling ▲ Feeling stiff in the morning ▲ Sound of 'tuk' sound in the joint ▲ Joint deformation or movement restriction.
Therefore, if such symptoms appear, it is necessary not to stay in simple symptomatic therapy such as pain relief or massage, but to seek medical attention quickly. If the diagnosis is delayed and the symptoms worsen, very fatal damage such as joint deformation can occur.
Arthritis is a chronic disease that is difficult to cure, and prevention is also very important. The key to prevention is weight control and strengthening muscle strength, and when one kilogram of weight increases, the load on the knee increases by about 4 kilograms, so it is necessary to maintain an appropriate weight. In addition, strengthening thigh and hip muscles also helps relieve arthritis. These muscles help reduce pain and increase joint stability by increasing support around the joint. In addition, it is recommended to avoid repetitive squatting, living on the floor, and lifting heavy objects, and to combine aerobic exercise and stretching.
◇Arthritis, early diagnosis can relieve symptoms without surgery
If arthritis is diagnosed and treated early, symptoms can be alleviated without surgery.
Basic treatments include pain-inflammatory drugs, cartilage protective agents, hyaluronic acid injections, and steroid injections. However, it is recommended to refrain from injecting steroids more than 3 to 4 times a year to reduce side effects.
In addition, physical therapy, posture correction, and extracorporeal shock wave treatment can be combined to improve symptoms. However, if the condition is severe, surgical treatment may be considered. Surgical treatments include arthroscopy and artificial joint replacement depending on the patient's condition.
Recently, regenerative medicine-based treatments such as stem cell injection and growth factor treatment are also being actively studied, but they are still limitedly applied, so they must be used after consulting with a specialist.
Professor Lee said "Arthritis can lead to a satisfactory quality of life with early diagnosis and treatment."However, the most important thing is to prevent arthritis and make efforts to protect the joints in daily life by the patient himself/herself."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
