5 Tips To Help Prevent Osteoarthritis Of The Hands

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) is a disease characterized by acute or chronic arthritis. Symptoms usually include pain, stiffness, and joint deformities. Therefore, this disease includes a wide variety of pathologies and rheumatic conditions. The most common of these are:

• Osteoarthritis: It leads to cartilage weakening and bone overgrowth.
• Osteoarthritis: A degenerative disease.
• Rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis: Autoimmune diseases.
• Gout: Due to the accumulation of uric acid (urate in the blood).
• Septic arthritis: Occurs as a result of infection.
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Due to an unknown cause.

Osteoarthritis of the hands

Osteoarthritis of the hands can affect any of the joints we find in the 29 bones between our hands and wrists. Pain in this part of the body can in most cases prevent you from performing many normal and daily routines.

The most common forms of hand osteoarthritis in this case are traditional osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis), post-traumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Here are some effective tips to help you both prevent osteoarthritis of your hands and bring pain relief if you’re already suffering from that disease.

5 tips to help us prevent osteoarthritis of the hands

1. Bromelain, a natural anti-inflammatory drug

Bromelain is an enzyme that has a so-called proteolytic effect and can be extracted either from the fruit part of the pineapple or from its stem. Bromelain stands out precisely for its anti-inflammatory, circulatory and immunomodulatory properties.

For this reason, bromelain is an effective natural remedy that helps prevent and alleviate rheumatoid arthritis. Studies have also shown that it can help reduce the inflammatory condition of joints significantly.

For this reason, we can add bromelain to the diet to prevent osteoarthritis of the hands or alleviate the discomfort, pain, and inflammatory condition caused by arthritis if we already suffer from that pathology. At the same time, thanks to the natural effect of bromelain, we can also avoid the risks that commercial NSAIDs can pose to the health of the body in the longer term.

2. Garlic as a supplement

Garlic is already a medicinal ingredient used during our ancestors, known above all for its cardiovascular health-enhancing effects. In addition, the sulfur compounds contained in garlic have been shown to have very effective anti-inflammatory properties.

In order to benefit from these compounds, we need to utilize garlic in the diet raw, either chewed or crushed. In this way, garlic can be included in, for example, vinegar-based salad dressings or in juices and soups made from vegetables, such as cold Spanish tomato soup, gazpacho. If you don’t want to use garlic raw in your food or don’t like its flavor, you can also try buying them as capsules, which are available in both well-stocked supermarkets and health food stores.

3. Application of heat therapy

When we suffer from acute inflammation, such as trauma caused by a shock, we can apply a cold to the pain site, which both acts as a pain reliever and reduces the formation of bruises. Conversely, when the inflammation is chronic, utilization of heat therapy to the pain site is much more effective. Regardless, you can, of course, test for yourself whether heat or cold treatment works better for pain and swelling in the joints of the hands.

Here are some ways to apply heat therapy to hand osteoarthritis:

• By rubbing your hands with a vegetable oil such as olive, almond or sesame oil.
• On the heating mat.
• With hot water bottle.
• With the help of thermal gloves.
• Immerse your hands in as hot water as possible for at least 10 minutes. However, test the water temperature before immersing your hands to avoid accidentally burning them in too hot water.

4. Exercises to prevent osteoarthritis of the hands

Symptoms of joint osteoarthritis of the hands include pain, swelling of the joints, and stiffness. Joint stiffness is usually worst in the mornings and in some cases can interfere with even ordinary everyday routines. In many cases, one of the factors contributing to this is excessive use of the computer and mouse. For this reason, we need to prevent osteoarthritis of the hands from occurring as early as possible.

If we work all the time with a computer keyboard and mouse, we should be the first to get used to taking breaks every half hour. You should take advantage of the break, for example, by exercising your hands and fingers and moving your wrists. In addition, rubbing your hands and shoulders during a break will help restore blood circulation and enhance joint well-being. These exercises can also be done outside of working hours, for example in the morning immediately after waking up or in the evening just before going to bed.

5. Avoid bad fats and enjoy more fiber

The best way to prevent arthritis and osteoarthritis is to have a healthy and varied diet. In this sense, studies have also shown that the consumption of certain foods may increase the importance of diet in preventing the onset of osteoarthritis. Some of these foods to consider include:

• Raw or cooked vegetables
• Legumes
• Certain spices such as turmeric and ginger
• Seasonal fruits
• Probiotic yogurt
• Vitamin D supplements, cod liver oil and multivitamins; keep in mind, however, that the use of supplements should always be monitored under the supervision of a health care professional.

With these tips, you can succeed in preventing the onset of osteoarthritis of the hands when you have been found to be at risk for that pathology. In addition, you may as well take advantage of these tips to relieve pain and swelling when you are already in the early stages of osteoarthritis.