Why Arthritis Is No Longer Just an Elderly Disease: Rise in Young Adults Reporting Joint Issues:

Arthritis, which was thought to be a problem for the elderly, is now showing up in people in their 20s and 30s. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that nearly 1 in 3 people under the age of 65 suffers from some sort of arthritis.

Dr. Venkatesh Movva, Regenerative Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialist, and founder of RegenOrthoSport tells me that there is also a similar trend in India. “We are seeing younger patients in orthopedic clinics with issues that were previously seen in more middle-aged to older patients,” he states. Increased screen time, bad ergonomics, and being a couch potato are all contributing to poor joint health at younger ages.

Lifestyle and Genetic Factors Associated with Young Onset Arthritis

The following factors are responsible for arthritis at an early age.

Obesity: Excess body weight can especially stress the weight-bearing joints such as knees and hips. “Joint stress multiplies with every few kilos gained,” says Dr. Movva.

Sedentary Lifestyle: Remaining seated for long periods of time; either at work, gaming, or with mobile devices lead to lack of soft tissue support and muscle stiffness.

Injuries: Old injuries like ligament tears or fractures may cause the associated joint to degenerate at a faster rate.

Autoimmune Conditions: Family history along with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis heightens the risk.

Other Factors: Tobacco use, bad nutrition, and elevated stress levels will also contribute.

Top 5 Early Symptoms of Arthritis to Look Out For

Dr. Movva gives outlines somke golden symptoms that could indicate early arthritis .

Severe morning body stiffness that lasts for more than 30 minutes

Persistent joint swelling or warmth around the afflicted area.

Pain experienced during or following everyday movement.

Feeling unusually tired, experiencing low-grade fever, or losing weight with no clear reason.

Having joints with limited movement in them.

Why Early Treatment is Important

A lot of younger people tend to ignore symptoms, thinking any joint problem is solely an old-age issue.

Dr Movva adds “Lack of attention to early symptoms guarantee treatment delay and may cause worse degeneration,”. The usual treatment methods consist of medications, physiotherapy, and some alterations in one’s lifestyle.

Forthcoming Nonsurgical Treatment Options Provide Encouragement

Nonoperational regenerative therapies might be advantageous for younger patients looking to these options. Such as:

Therapy with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): Inflammatory process and healing PRP assists with inflammation and healing. This blood derivative is obtained from a patient's blood.

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC): These commonly found factors possess protective qualities and regenerative cells responsible for tissue reconstruction.

Dr. Movva claims “These treatments may eliminate or decrease the necessity for joint replacement approaches, particularly when patients seek aid at earlier stages.”