From thehealthsite.com
Signs of arthritis can appear in your 20s and 30s: Here are some of the warning symptoms that your body may give you when your workout is indirectly hurting your joints, and leading to the onset of arthritis
Over the past several years, gym culture has become synonymous with urban living, and many young adults are beginning to emphasize strength training, weight training and high-endurance style workouts with a focus on high momentum. While engagement in movement is incredibly important when maintaining healthy bones and joints, motivation for consistency and intensity of exercise can only be positive when within reason; however, this consumption of the feeling of accomplishment can backfire!
Joints and bones can become overloaded when a person who, traditionally is in their 20s or 30s, exercise beyond their threshold and leads to what experts refer to as, "bone burnout." While there isn't a formal diagnosis for bone burnout, bone burnout is the accelerated wear and tear of bone and joints symmetrically, which induces continued joint problems of debilitating pain, stiffness and even early-onset arthritis.
Why Are Young Adults Prone to Bone Burnout?
Young adults often stress their bones and joints harder than older adults often without realizing the long-lasting effects this will have on their joints. Young adults typically spend an excessive amount of time weight training, not warmed up, demonstrating abnormal postural patterns, ignoring early signs of cartilage degradation like knee pain or back pain can compromise cartilage at a faster than normal rate akin to the European elite athlete populations, such as meniscus tears at a rapid and alarming rate, like 20-30 year olds may have premature arthritis like osteoarthritis.
The Significance of Innovation in Treatment
Lifestyle changes, physiotherapy, and preventative care are the first line of management for severe cases, but there are disruptive innovations that are changing treatment options for serious cases. Robotic-assisted surgery for knee surgeries is one innovation that can provide results that have much greater accuracy, smaller incisions and faster recovery times than traditional surgery. For younger patients with isolated disease, partial knee replacement or joint resurfacing can provide pain relief and mobility while removing less of the natural joint, which can provide years before total knee replacement is required.
Prevention is Better Than Cure
Fortunately, bone burnout is preventable. Engaging in a balanced exercise schedule including strength, flexibility, and rest; wearing appropriate footwear; adequate calcium and vitamin D; and being responsive to your body's warning signs can all help. When pain persists, it is important to get an early consult with a knowledgeable orthopaedic specialist for a definitive diagnosis instead of masking symptoms with pain medication.
Growth is happening in a younger population as fitness becomes a larger part of their lifestyle, so awareness of bone and joint health must be considered. Overtraining without oversight is and will always be a potential injury/path to irreversible damage. The good news is without old age or degenerative changes we have treatments such as preventative care, advances with robotic surgery, and partial replacements that will allow us to help even if our young patients won't lose their active lifestyles and mobility, quality of life, and not be left with long-term repercussions after surgery.
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