Arthritis
often start early in adult with cerebral
palsy in comparison to normal population. It may cause pain and stiffness in joints. But the, adult
with cerebral palsy can be treated by pain management, preventative strategies,
surgery, and other treatment for arthritis.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis
means inflammation of joint. It present with swelling, difficulty in moving the
joints, joint pain, and tenderness of one or more joints. It can affect our
body joints like knees, hips, elbows, and knuckle.
Arthritis
can occurs due to variety of reason and so it is named according to aetiology
& presentation. The most common type
of arthritis is osteoarthritis, often affecting people with cerebral
palsy. Mostly this is seen in older adults as it is
caused by deterioration in the joint cartilage.
The
cartilage gives cushioning with inside the joint, so while that wears down, the
result is ache, swelling, and stiffness.
Risk
elements for arthritis in cerebral palsy include a family history of arthritis,
being older, overweight, sever spasticity, limb deformity and injuring a joint.
The
symptoms of arthritis are usually continual and progressive, and the remedy for
this is to alleviate the ache and swelling and enhance motion within the
joints.
How does cerebral palsy cause arthritis?
cerebral palsy adult can develop osteoarthritis. The risk factor include joint deformity, spasticity, dystonia abnormal gait pattern, over weight etc. As a child with cerebral palsy age enters adulthood, chances of fatigue & joint pain increases..
Cerebral
palsy has different phases of abnormalities in the neuromuscular system that
cause unusual movements in joints, overuse or compression of joints, and
excessive wear on joint cartilage. As a result, it leads to osteoarthritis.
Knee
arthritis is most common in people with cerebral palsy. However, the joints not
involved in walking can also get affected. Besides this, muscle imbalance
across a joint is common in cerebral palsy. That may cause uncommon shoulder or
elbow joint movements, which leads to premature wear on the cartilage. Spinal
degenerative arthritis are common in dystonic cerebral palsy which can cause
numbness in limb and sometime weakness that occurs due to compression over
nerve.
Symptoms
However,
people with cerebral palsy will not develop the symptoms of arthritis until
they become adults. Parents as well individual with CP must know the signs of
arthritis that make better results as early intervention.
The
symptoms that include osteoarthritis are-
- Pain in joints while or after
movement (commonly in hips, knees, hands)
- Stiffness in joints
- Tenderness of joints while
touched
- Reduced flexibility that causes
it hard to bend down or climb stairs
- Grating inside the joints while
moving
- Hard lumps around the skin of joint
Treatment and Prevention of Arthritis
Prevention
of joint arthritis is not completely possible but its intensity can be reduced
by exercises, weight reduction, proper limb alignment and tone management. The
treatment of arthritis depends on specific cause. The treatment is possible by
the medications, physical therapies, or joint replacement surgery.
Some
people with cerebral palsy develop arthritis which can be prevented by early
diagnosis and treatment of
cerebral palsy in childhood. That will make them enjoy their life
with minimal pain.
For more details, visit https://www.trishlafoundation.com/
