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Friday, August 7, 2009

Sore Joints - What Could Be The Reason For Sore Joints?

By Mitchell Tyrell

Sore joints can have a wide variety of causes. Arthritis in its most common form, osteoarthritis, is the leading cause of sore joints. However, many other factors can also have a negative effect on joints.

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Most people over the age of 70 are afflicted with severity ranging from mild to severe. However, after the age of 55, the illness affects more women than men. Osteoarthritis is the erosion of the cushion between the bones. The cushion is a layer of cartilage - the same tissue that makes up the bridge of your nose. Age and normal use causes some of the wear. However, with osteoarthritis the cartilage completely disappears, which leaves the exposed bones to rub against each other. Painful outgrowths of bone, called spurs, can also occur.

Osteoarthritis wears away the cartilage between the bones. The cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones. Almost everyone over the age of 55 has some degree of osteoarthritis. As we age the cartilage naturally erodes. Those afflicted with osteoarthritis, though, will eventually have no cartilage left. Once this occurs, the bones rub against each other causing painful bone spurs to form.

Another soft tissue in the joints that can be affected by overuse is the ligament. Ligaments are the tissues that hold bones together in a joint. Ligaments can be damaged in a couple of different ways. Strains are caused by overextension of the ligament. As the ligament is stretched beyond its limits, tears occur in the fibrous tissue. These tears cause the ligament to swell and the sore joint to occur. Sprains, on the other hand, are caused by the joint twisting in a direction that is not normal. Overuse can also cause damage to the bones. Stress fractures can occur in the weight bearing bones of the legs, especially in people who do a lot of running.

Osteoarthritis is not the only illness that affects joint health. An autoimmune disease called rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling in the joints for unknown causes. A bacterial infection can cause septic arthritis. Many other forms of arthritis also exist. - 17274

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