Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease mainly refers to the mechanical wear and tear of the joints. This is manifested by the inflammation and deformity of the joints due to the deterioration of tendons and ligaments around them and the breakdown of their cartilage. We now enumerate the occupational and genetic risk factors for osteoarthritis and also give an insight into joint replacement surgery in Mumbai.
Occupational Risk Factors:
- Heavy physical workload: This is one of the most common occupational risk factors for osteoarthritis. Physically demanding professions like those of a chiropractor, athlete, minor and brick mason greatly contribute to the wear and tear of the joints on account of over-exertion. Regular stair climbing, bending, vibration and rotation of various body parts and various other repetitive movements are responsible for this disorder. However, this is completely curative through joint replacement surgeries by the best joint replacement surgeon in Mumbai.
- Sedentary occupations: People leading a sedentary lifestyle on account of their occupations, with hardly any exercise and poor food habits, are likely to develop obesity, which is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis, particularly inflammation of the knee joint. The pro-inflammatory role of this disease accelerates the process of osteoarthritis even during its early stages. This too can be treated by the best knee replacement surgeon in Mumbai.
Genetic Risk Factors:
- Diabetes: This disorder greatly contributes to the inflammatory responses within the body. Elevation of the blood sugar level increases the number of free radicals within the body, which causes a decrease in the resilience and resistance provided by the cartilage layers.
- Hyperlipidemia: This refers to the elevated level of lipids or fats in our body. Controlling this disorder is not just important for the health of the bone, but even for the general health of our bodies. Hyperlipidemia, too, works like diabetes, as it contributes to the increase in free radicals in the body.
- Decreased Oestrogen: Decreased oestrogen levels are mainly seen in women post-menopause. Oestrogens play a crucial role in bone health by reducing oxidative stress to the surrounding cartilage. Decreased oestrogen levels are mainly manifested by the fracture of hip joints, which commonly occurs in women beyond the age of fifty. This too can be treated by the best hip replacement surgeon in Mumbai.
- Hereditary disorders: Genetic variations, which are often rare, yet, very serious play a major role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. The variations in several genes coding for cartilage extracellular matrix and bone density cause osteoarthritis. The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a good example, where joint hypermobility contributes to the genesis of osteoarthritis.
Final Overview
Dr. Niraj Vora is an orthopaedic surgeon based in Mumbai, specializing in hip and knee replacement surgeries. He has been successfully treating several patients requiring joint replacement surgery in Mumbai. His expertise also lies in robotic knee replacement surgeries and trauma surgeries. He is an esteemed member of the Indian Orthopaedic Association, British Orthopaedic Association, Indian Arthroplasty Association and Bombay Orthopaedic Society.
Be sure to seek direct consultancy from experts to learn more about this topic.