Bangkok--30 Jul--Hill & Knowlton
Bone and Joint Decade Foundation (Thailand) joins forces with private sector to organize “Joint Free...lubricate your joints”
Reducing potential incidents of Osteoarthritis, deformity and disability by delivering clear support and advice to sufferers
The Bone and Joint Decade Foundation (Thailand), in collaboration with Millimed Co. Ltd., today organized an event entitled ‘Joint Free Lubricate Your Joints’ at the Eden Zone of Bangkok’s Central World department store to raise public awareness on Osteoarthritis, focusing on its common causes, as well as offering free preventive guidelines and treatment in an effort to minimize future cases of the degenerative joints diseases.
The term Osteoarthritis (OA) refers to a group of medical abnormalities in joints due to chemical, mechanical and morphological changes in a patient’s articular cartilage. This cartilage is normally elastic in nature and serves as a cushion between the bones of the joints, enabling them to glide past each other smoothly. However, during cartilage degradation the bones will grind against each other, leading to creaking, inflammation, acute pain and loss of motion, as well as further problems relating the distribution of body weight. OA occurs more frequently as we age, with its likelihood increasing after the age of 50, particularly amongst those who make heavy use of their joints.
“Particularly common amongst the elderly, people from all around the world - including in Thailand - are suffering from OA, which can make the simplest of tasks considerably painful. Sufferers will often experience creaking and locking of the joints, swelling, acute pain and in some cases deformities,” said Dr Udom Wisitsunthorn, President of Bone and Joint Decade Foundation (Thailand). “Indeed the prevalence of OA is on the rise, with a 2002 survey of the elderly population conducted by Siriraj Hospital placing it at around 34.5-45.6%. With the condition affecting patients both physically and mentally, these figures represent a major public health concern that we should all be more aware of. With a better understanding of the disease, along with a preventive approache and proper treatment will enable patients to enjoy an improved quality of life, as well as reduce their treatment costs.”
Assistant Professor Dr Wilai Kubsiratsaikul, Head of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University said, “It is clear that age is a prominent factor in OA, since ageing naturally results in the wear and tear of articular cartilage based on the use of joints. Apart from this, the change of joint cartilage caused by rheumatoid arthritis or septic arthritis will speed up the degeneration of cartilage. So far, there is no specific treatment to repair damaged cartilage in osteoarthritis, thus, the existing treatment focus on alleviating pain to maintain normal use of joint cartilage. These include physical therapy, knee exercises, medication and surgery. With regards to medication, patients today have a greater range of convenient choices, such as drinking glucosamine sulfate daily to delay the onset of OA and to relieve any pain caused.”
“Other recommendations for reducing the wear and tear of joints include weight control to prevent obesity, avoiding excessive kneeling, sitting in cross-legged position, squatting or unnecessary walking of stairs. Proper knee exercises will also help improve joint functions, as will proper types of exercising such as walking, cycling, or aerobic water exercise for those suffering from obesity,” added Dr Wilai.
Other potential factors behind OA include hereditary conditions, excess upper body weight, incorrect or repetitive use of joints and a history of repeated injury. Furthermore, the incidence of OA in females and males is also variable by age. It occurs more frequently in females after age 50 years, which is possibly due to the change of hormones in menopausal women.
The ‘Joint Free... Lubricate Your Joints’ event aims to raise public awareness on the causes and risk factors of osteoarthritis, featuring a talk with osteoarthritis doctors and special guests, including actress Khemanij ‘Pancake’ Jamikorn and her mother Nuannong Jamikorn, and Mintita ‘Mint’ Wattanakul (AF3) and her actor father Kovit Watthanakul, who were on hand to share their experiences on healthy lifestyles that are free from Osteoarthritis. Furthermore, the event was enlivened by a special performance by Thailand’s dance sport championship duo: ML Warapa Jumbala and Watcharakorn Suasuebpun, as well as other veteran dance sport enthusiasts, showing off the fitness of their joints and healthy bodies. Participants also received bone mineral density (bmd) tests and professional advice from specialists at the event filled with exhibitions on Osteoarthritis and healthy-living activities.
No matter how old you are, it is advisable to start taking good care of yourself to prevent Osteoarthritis in the future. More information on Osteoarthritis can be obtained at 02-510-2023.
สื่อมวลชนสอบถามข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมได้ที่:
คุณชุติมา บวรรัตนโชติ
ฮิลล์ แอนด์ นอลตัน (ประเทศไทย)
โทรศัพท์: 0-2627-3501 ต่อ 211
e-Mail: [email protected]
Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net
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