To successfully treat and prevent recurrence of osteoarthritis we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow osteoarthritis to develop?"
Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind osteoarthritis consists of three steps:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Manganese Need | 98% | Confirm |
A Weight Problem | 12% | Unlikely |
Low Estrogens | 3% | Ruled out |
Overtraining | 2% | Ruled out |
Have you been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear / age-related arthritis)? This is not the same as Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Possible responses:
→ No / don't know→ It is suspected → Yes, mild in one or two joints → Yes, mild in several joints / severe in one or two → Yes, severe in several joints / I'm disabled by it |
In studies of older women, a lower risk of osteoarthritis was found in women who had used oral estrogens for hormone replacement therapy. The researchers suspect that low estrogen levels could increase risk for the disease, but further studies are needed.
Bone cartilage can't grow or repair itself adequately without manganese – an essential part of glucosamine, which is in turn a major joint building block. When glucosamine is in short supply, various forms of arthritis tend to arise, eventually leading to joint deterioration.
Forcing joints to carry more weight than they were designed for often results in premature failure.
Cortisol – a hormone produced by the adrenal gland during periods of intense physical exercise – interferes with bone-building and reduces bone density by breaking down bone faster than it is made.