CAN TEACHING INCREASE YOUR RISK FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS?

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Although it’s primarily related to aging, studies have also shown that osteoarthritis is linked to repetitive joint injury and strain; certain occupations are at increased risk of developing the painful disease. High on the list of risky jobs include those involving heavy lifting, unhealthy joint strain or stress - think construction or textile workers for example, but you might be surprised to find professions like teachers and musicians also on that list.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where cartilage, which acts as a cushion between bones, is worn away. When that cartilage wears down, the bones begin to rub together causing severe pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

Sometimes the symptoms take the form of short-term pain that lasts less than a year but can recur. Other times, it’s a painful daily battle involving stiff joints in the morning; pain that increases with activity and decreases with rest. People have difficulty exercising, suffer with decreased mobility, fatigue and creaking or popping sounds in joints when you move, called crepitus.

Causes?

There are a number of factors that may contribute to osteoarthritis, including genetics, gender (women tend to develop it more than men), obesity, tissue and joint trauma, aging and the corresponding loss of collagen in tissues, poor posture/body mechanics, and sports injuries.

Although most studies point to osteoarthritis as a wear and tear issue, some recent studies conclude that it’s less about the wear and tear and more about an individual body’s failure to repair the damage.

Why teachers?

If you’re a teacher, you might not be surprised to find yourself at risk for developing osteoarthritis. In fact, you might be experiencing the symptoms of osteoarthritis, whether you’ve identified the cause or not.

Teachers have been identified as an at-risk group primarily because they work on their feet most of the day. Feet are especially at risk as they come under pressure and strain all day long; feet are small in terms of overall body mass, but foot tissues, bones and joints bear not only the weight of the entire body, but also the force of body movements like running, jumping. Furthermore, if you’re an elementary teacher, frequently kneeling, child lifting, and desk moving also makes knees and hips points of strain.

But what you may not have considered is how years of writing on the whiteboard - arm above your shoulder at an awkward angle - puts repetitive stress on the joints in your shoulders and hands. Or the discomfort in your fingers from typing and computer work. All of these straining activities contribute to osteoarthritis in the hand and shoulder.

Preventing osteoarthritis

Whatever the cause or causes, we do know osteoarthritis is chronic and progressive; once you have it, it will continue to get worse over time. But there are steps you can take to decrease your chances of developing it, and to give you body a fighting chance if you already have it.

The best way to reduce your risk of developing arthritis is to maintain a lifestyle that protects your joints, including:

Maintain a healthy weight to reduce stress on joints;
Exercise to stabilize and strengthen the muscles around your joints;
Use proper body positioning when lifting, sitting, and carrying things;
Be aware of, and minimize, activities at work that might put a strain on your joints.

Pain control

If you’re already experiencing symptoms of osteoarthritis, here are a few tips for treating the stiffness and discomfort:

Adopt different body positions to avoid stressing them – choose sitting instead of standing or use ergonomically designed tools when working;
Get enough sleep - rest your body for optimal tissue healing
Sleep on a firm mattress to reduce the stress on joints;
Use over the counter NSAIDS for pain relief, when necessary.

Fight back with collagen supplements (affiliate link) and a healthy diet rich in antioxidants

Another key to preventing osteoarthritis and to repairing damage to your joints is taking a collagen supplement. Collagen helps rejuvenate, strengthen and support our cartilage and other connective tissues. As we age, our natural collagen production slows down, leaving us less able to fight the forces that break down our cartilage. Taking a quality marine collagen peptide supplement can support your body’s natural collagen production which works to repair joint tissues, keep bones strong and reduce systemic inflammation.

While there are many antioxidant supplements on the market, the very best way to support your body is through a healthy diet based on whole foods – nuts, grains, fruits and vegetable. And the best way to get a natural variety of the antioxidants your body needs is to eat a rainbow of foods. The different colors of fruits and vegetables at your local market are caused by the different nutrients contained in each. You can give your body a variety of antioxidants – as well as other vital nutrients – by eating a variety of different colors.

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