[Click! Health] Today is 'Arthritis Day'... How to Live Healthily with Your Lifelong Companion, Joints

April 28th is designated as "Arthritis Day" by the Korean Orthopedic Association. Among arthritis types, degenerative arthritis is the most representative and affects an average of 4 million people annually in Korea alone. Especially among the elderly aged 65 and over, it occurs so frequently that 1 in 3 people experience it. This day was established to raise awareness about arthritis and to promote proper treatment methods.

Park Sang-eun, Director of Orthopedics at Gangnam Bedro Hospital, is examining a patient with knee arthritis.
[Photo by Gangnam Bedro Hospital]

Degenerative arthritis is a disease caused by the gradual loss of cartilage that absorbs shocks within the joint. The main cause is joint wear due to long-term use. Therefore, aging itself is considered a primary risk factor, and other factors such as obesity, low bone density, or excessive participation in sports also increase the risk. In particular, women with low bone density are known to have twice the number of patients compared to men.

The knee joint is especially prone to degenerative arthritis due to the heavy load from body weight. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients with knee osteoarthritis reached approximately 3.08 million last year, which is a 25.8% increase compared to 10 years ago (2012). It is also analyzed that many Koreans experience knee cartilage wear due to lifestyle habits such as squatting and sitting cross-legged.

When knee cartilage wears down, secondary damage occurs to the bones, joint capsule, and surrounding ligaments, causing pain, deformity, and functional impairment. In the early stages, pain develops, making it difficult to climb stairs, and stiffness is felt when standing up after sitting for a long time. In the advanced stage, extensive cartilage damage leads to the disappearance of the space between joint bones, causing severe pain when walking or climbing stairs, as if the knee is about to give out. Dr. Sang-eun Park, an orthopedic surgeon at Gangnam Bedro Hospital, explained, “Knee arthritis usually progresses slowly and alternates between improvement and worsening. It is advisable to closely observe symptoms and visit a hospital immediately if swelling near the knee or difficulty bending the joint is noticed.”

The most important preventive measure for degenerative arthritis is muscle strength management through exercise. It is recommended to maintain muscle strength with light exercises that do not strain the joints, such as stretching, walking, swimming, Pilates, or yoga. Dr. Park said, “Some people avoid exercise to protect their knees, but regular and appropriate exercise improves flexibility and actually helps with knee arthritis. Even for those already experiencing arthritis, it is beneficial to consistently perform muscle-strengthening exercises that do not cause strain, such as quadriceps setting exercises or lower body exercises done while lying down.” However, it is best to avoid sports that can impact the joints, such as jokgu (foot volleyball), tennis, volleyball, or strenuous activities like long-distance jogging and mountain hiking, as they may adversely affect the knees.

A common problem after degenerative arthritis develops is that many people neglect early symptoms, leading to worsening conditions. Dr. Park emphasized, “There are more cases than expected where patients visit hospitals only after the early stage, which can be treated with non-surgical methods such as injections, medication, or physical therapy, has passed and surgery becomes inevitable due to severe progression. Especially for elderly patients, timely diagnosis and treatment by specialists are crucial as the timing of treatment greatly influences recovery and prognosis.”

When diagnosed with knee arthritis, treatment methods are considered based on the severity of symptoms. In the early to mid-stages, conservative treatments such as injections and physical therapy are mainly performed. Methods include injecting cells similar to those in the human body or hyaluronic acid (HA), and various treatments like exercise rehabilitation and extracorporeal shock wave therapy have been developed.

In the advanced stage, surgical treatment is performed. At this time, the patient’s age and joint condition are comprehensively considered to determine the appropriate method. Arthroscopic surgery, commonly performed, involves inserting a thin, long endoscope with a diameter of 2 to 5 mm into the joint to diagnose and treat internal lesions. The small incision allows for a quick return to daily life, less pain, and simultaneous accurate diagnosis and surgery. Recently, artificial joint replacement surgery has gained attention for effectively reducing pain and correcting deformed joints. Robotic-assisted artificial joint surgery, which analyzes and reviews the patient’s individual condition to perform more precise and safer procedures, is also receiving focus.

Dr. Park said, “Degenerative arthritis, mainly occurring in the knees, reduces walking and exercise ability, lowering quality of life and negatively affecting elderly health, so caution is necessary. With recent significant advances in treatment methods, it is important not to consider knee pain as a natural part of aging but to visit a hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment to actively manage and prevent the condition.”