Concerned phyisiotherapists have drawn attention to the growing number, mainly women in Sri Lanka who have become afflicted by Osteroarthritis (OA). They warned victims to reduce their weight as carrying extra body weight contributes to OA. “The more you weigh, the greater your risk. Increased weight adds stress to weight-bearing joints, such as your hips and knees. Also, fat tissue produces proteins that can cause harmful inflammation in and around your joints,” Chartered Physiotherapist Dr Gopi Kitnasamy told the Sunday Observer. He said women were more vulnerable to OA for various reasons. “Knee osteoarthritis is twice as common in women as in men.
Women who regularly wear high heels may increase their risk of osteoarthritis of the knee. Higher the heels, there is an increase in the compression on the inner side of the knee. Prolonged wearing and walking in heels could, over time, contribute to joint degeneration and knee osteoarthritis.
The foot is designed to distribute pressure evenly when you walk. Having excess pressure in the forefoot by wearing high heels can also cause problems like corns, hammertoes, bunions, and plantar fasciitis.”
Alternatively, he noted that flat shoes weren’t necessarily ideal for arthritis either, especially, if they’re rigid and pointy. If you do wear flats, choose a pair that offers enough shock absorption and arch support. Look on the inside and make sure the shoe isn’t completely flat. A footwear with a one-inch wedge heel and slight arch on the inner side is ideal to wear, he said.
He said high glucose levels can speed up the formation of molecules that make cartilage stiff, and diabetes can also trigger inflammation that can accelerate cartilage loss. Keeping diabetes under control and regulating your glucose levels can help prevent OA. Keeping a healthy weight can help prevent OA, he stressed. Regular exercises and avoiding climbing staircases will also help, he added.
Leptospirosis rising with flooding after rains
A total of 253 cases of Leptospirosis have been reported to the Epidemiology Unit in the first month of this year ( up to Jan 22).
District-wise Ratnapura leads the rest at 41 cases followed by NuwaraEliya , with Anuradhapura ( 29), Hambantota ( 27) and Kegalle following close behind.
According to Health Ministry officials, at least six districts had no cases reported. They include Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Moneragala, Trincomalee, Kilinochchi and Kalmunai.
Ministry officials told the Sunday Observer that these districts which had traditionally recorded high numbers, had reduced drastically due to vigilance and strict monitoring to prevent early outbreaks and fatalities.
They said that unusually high case fatality rates and increased reporting from high risk districts were some of the notable features in recent years. Calling for the need to strengthen the primary preventive activities at district and divisional levels they stressed the importance of good clinical management practices in hospitals and a revision of the present strategies of control.
Health sources said pamphlets in Sinhala and Tamil had been issued to those at risk of the disease. They include those involved in farming, cleaning drains, gem mining and through swimming pools and playing grounds contaminated with the Leptospiro germs.
They urged the public engaged in these practices to watch out for symptoms like conjunctival suffusion, muscular pain and tenderness notably in the calf and muscular areas.
“ If a decision to give prophylaxis is made it is to be closely monitored by the MoH and field staff. Asked what the recommended dose was, a health official said, “ The recommended dose is Doxycline 200 mg. weekly during the period of possible exposure to the disease.”