Arthritis has always been an ailment that affects primarily the elderly, but this trend is changing dramatically and alarmingly among the younger generation. It is no longer just the grandparents complaining of pain in their knees; an increasing number of the youth are also reporting persistent joint pain, tender joints and swollen joints.

In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr. Rajeev Verma, HOD and consultant, Joint Replacement and Orthopaedics, Manipal Hospital Dwarka, New Delhi explained the major causes of arthritis in youth and the signs and symptoms of this painful disease.

Causes Of Arthritis In Youth

Staying Inactive For Long Periods

More jobs are being desk-based and due to too much exposure to screens and less activity, the younger generation has become lazier, and this has brought about weak muscles and poor health of the joints.

Increase In Weight

The rate of people affected by obesity is increasing day by day. Being overweight causes stress on weight-bearing joints especially the hips and knees joints, raising chances in the development of arthritic conditions.

Injuries In Sport

If a person does heavy workouts without properly warming up and taking care after exercises. These injuries have the potential to cause arthritis-related conditions at an early age if not properly managed.

Autoimmunity

Autoimmunity refers to diseases including rheumatoid arthritis which attacks people’s joints as the body's immune system tries to destroy the joints affected, sadly these diseases are diagnosed in active persons in their twenties and thirties.

Heredity

If a family member suffers from arthritis, they will most likely be diagnosed even at a younger age.

Early Signs And Symptoms

Joint Pain

Persistent joint pains are among the first signs of arthritis that one can experience. These pains can sometimes be specific to one joint such as the knee, hip, or even hands that may be aggravated after doing any physical activities or even occur for no reason at all.

Morning Stiffness

Stiffness in the joints after waking up or after sitting for extended periods is another warning sign. Morning stiffness usually lasts for more than 30 minutes and can make simple tasks like getting out of bed difficult. This is especially common in inflammatory types of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis.

Swelling and Inflammation

Swollen joints are inflamed due to swelling under the skin making them look bigger than normal. The swollen region may be accompanied by warmth and redness of the depressed area. This is a common symptom that indicates an inflammatory response of the body which is characteristic in many types of arthritis.

Reduced Range of Motion

The range of motion in the affected joints may also be restricted as the arthritis disease advances in its severity. It might become hard to bend or extend the joint completely and climb up objects or even some stairs especially during morning hours or after sitting in one position for a long time.

Loss of Sensation or Tingling

In certain circumstances, arthritis may also cause pain to the nerves adjacent to the joint leading to sensations such as numbness or tingling. This is frequently experienced in conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs in patients with arthritis of the wrist.

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