OSTEOARTHRITIS

OSTEOARTHRITIS: Fact or Fiction?

Did you know Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease and a major cause of pain and disability in adult individuals?

This media video makes the following remarks on the management of osteoarthritis:

Medications can reduce joint swelling and pain.
Ice pack may also reduce joint pain.
Losing weight may also help slow the progression of osteoarthritis.
Physical therapy, exercises, and walking may help decreasing pain.
Braces help with joint support and alignment to reduce joint pain.
Injection may helps to control joint pain
Surgery might be needed for joint replacement.

Islam, M. J., Yusuf, M. S., Hossain, M., (2013). Update Management of Osteoarthritis: A Review. Journal of Science Foundation. 11 (2), 49-55. doi: 10.3329/jsf.v1112.21597

This article explains the role of non- pharmacologic ( natural and drug free medicine) therapies and pharmacologic ( prescription and over- the – counter medication) therapies in the management of osteoarthritis.

Natural and drug free medicine include:

weight reduction through diet and exercise
Correction of malalignment of the joints of the joints with used of braces

Prescription and over – the – counter medications include:

Medications that can be taken by mouth.
Medications in the form of topical ( can be applied on the surface of the joints: cream, gels, lotions, or ointments)
Injections
Surgery: minor or major surgery

This article supports this media video; both the media video and this source report similar treatment methods for the management of osteoarthritis. Therefore, I find this information on the media video to be credible.

Media Video about osteoarthritis

This media video exposes the best and the worst food for arthritis

Food to eat:

Rich in Omega -3 fatty acid: wild cod fish, salmon, walnuts, seeds
High in sulfur: onions, garlic, asparagus, cabbage
Bone broth
Fruits and vegetables

Food to avoid:

Excess sugar- causes joint swelling
Hydrogenated oil

Rayman, P., (2015). Diet, nutrition and osteoarthritis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 16 (1), S7. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-16-S1-S7

Osteoarthritis is the fastest growing cause of disability. Individuals with this condition may take some control of their own condition by making a change in their diet which could potentially ease the symptoms and reduce the progression of the disease.

These are some of the recommendations:

Lose weight, if overweight, through exercise.
Reduce high cholesterol food.
Increase omega- 3 fatty acids; eat oily fish times a week.
Eat rich vitamin- D food- milk
Increase vitamin-K intake by eating green leafy vegetables.

This article supports the video on the proper diet for individuals with osteoarthritis; however, the author did not make any suggestions on the type of diet that should be avoided. I would recommend this media video as credible.

Media Video

This media video claims there is a cure for osteoarthritis. The treatment is to stop eating dairy products such as milk and cheese.

Bing, L., Jeffrey, B., Driban, D.,[…], and Charles, B. E. (2014). Milk Consumption and Progression of Medical Tibiofemoral Knee Osteoarthritis: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Arthritis Care & Research. 66(6), 802-809. doi: 10.1002/acr.2297

This source clearly states, ” our results suggest that frequent milk consumption may be associated with reduced osteoarthritis (OA) progression in women” (Bing et al., 2014, p. 802).

OA is a slow progressive disease that has no cure.
Milk is an excellent source of vitamins and protein.
Milk has been recognized for its important role in bone health.
Milk and other dairy products should be consumed daily as part of a balanced and healthy diet.

This article does not support this media. Based on these findings, I can conclude this media video is not accurate at all. I would not recommend this media video as credible.