Do you experience joint pain and reduced flexibility? You are not alone. Many people—both young and old—experience joint pain at some point in their lives. Some develop it as part of aging while others sustain injuries. In the last few decades, we’ve seen an increasing number of people undergoing orthopedic surgeries in Thane. They have their hips and knees replaced by implants. The question is why are we seeing an increase in the rates of hip and knee replacement today? What’s made people prone to joint pain? Let’s find out.
Aging Population
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every 1 in 6 people will be aged 60 years or above by 2030. With a large portion of the world’s population falling into the senior citizen category, people experience age-related joint wear and tear. Osteoarthritis, particularly, is more prevalent in older people than their younger counterparts.
As cartilage wears, people experience joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty moving their joints. These symptoms make daily activities challenging. This explains the rise in hip and knee replacement surgeries. People opt for the surgical replacement of their damaged joint with an artificial joint to relieve pain and improve their quality of life.
Advances in Medical Technology
Surgical replacement was considered high-risk medical treatment for older patients in the past. Today, the innovation in the medical industry, such as the practice of robot-assisted knee replacement, has dramatically improved the success outcome.
Not only is the surgery less complicated, but it also involves faster recovery and restores maximum joint function. The surgery is performed with the highest level of precision. Besides, the materials used for prosthetics, like titanium and ceramics, are robust enough to last for years.
Rise in Obesity and Sedentary Lifestyles
A sedentary lifestyle that involves eating junk, skipping exercises, and not getting an adequate sleep can also increase your risk of developing joint issues over time.
a) Impact of Your Weight on Your Joints’ Health:
Modern lifestyle changes have led to a growing number of people becoming overweight or obese. A hip and knee replacement surgeon in Thane believes that excess weight puts tremendous pressure on your weight-bearing joints, causing cartilage wear and tear over time.
b) Lack of Physical Activity:
While digitalization has transformed our lives positively, it has also reduced physical activity. Jobs that previously required physical movement are now automated. Besides, most office-goers sit in front of screens for hours in poor postures, which places them at a higher risk of joint issues.
Once the joints wear away, the most feasible solution to restore knee or hip function is surgery. So, instead of relying on home remedies or non-invasive treatment options, these people opt for surgeries.
Increased Awareness and Accessibility
Earlier, people diagnosed with osteoarthritis would endure the pain, assuming it was a natural part of aging and that there was not much they could do to get relief. Surgery was never an option, partly because they were unaware of the surgical outcomes and partly because they feared undergoing an invasive procedure. Today, the increasing awareness of surgical implants, their effectiveness, shorter recovery periods, and other benefits of surgery has led to a rise in joint and knee replacement.
