Exclusive: Have bone-related issues? Do these exercises suggested by Dr Kunal Makhija

Exercise helps in improving muscle strength and endurance. It also reduces heart disease and prevents obesity. Ageing can cause bones to become weak and fragile. It can result in a condition called osteoporosis. With age, joint pain can also come and can result in a condition called osteoarthritis.

Free Press Journal exclusively spoke to orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeon Dr Kunal Makhija to know about prevention, symptoms and treatment for bone-related diseases. Excerpts:

What are the early symptoms of Arthritis?

Arthritis generally starts after the age of 40. It is more common in females than in males because of the hormonal changes. Females face arthritis problems sooner than males. The early symptoms would be a pain in the smaller joints of the body that is finger or the knee.

The main symptom would be when you sit for a longer period of time and the first few steps are painful, those are the early signs of arthritis.

How to prevent Arthritis?

Arthritis is an age-related disease and is normal wear and tear of the body. You cannot stop wear and tear. You cannot stop ageing. Arthritis happens in joints, which is when a bone is in connection with the other bone in joint form. Around those joints, there are various muscles, which also act. One has to understand that joint is a dynamic structure. When there is a problem in the joint, the muscles take over the part and it becomes less painful if the muscles around them are strong. Muscles around will be strong only when they will be active, keep exercising and keep them well-nourished.

The three simple features would be you need to be well-nourished. You need to keep the muscles active and do some activities that do not include a normal kitchen or office work. There are 206 bones in the body forming more than 2000 joints and more than 620 muscles in the body. Rest of the 50 per cent of the muscles you have to see to it that it is put to work. Do yoga, and exercise so that your body is active and stronger than what they are and well-nourished. They make up for the arthritis joint pain.

Men are more prone to spine and back problems as compared to knee problems. Arthritis in men comes at an older age compared to females.

What are the basic exercises for Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis?

Osteoporosis does not require exercise. It requires nourishment and vitamin D3 and calcium. Osteoarthritis requires more exercise. For Osteoporosis it is more of the sun that we have to expose ourselves to. Usually, we are not exposed to enough sun as we are always in our AC cars. We do not go to buy things. Exposure to the sun does not happen. It is a misunderstanding that exposure to the sun is in the early morning. Exposure to the sun should be from 9.30 onwards. 9.30 Am to 12, would say. It will penetrate the skin and form vitamin D3 which is essential for the prevention of osteoporosis and treatment. Have well calcium food. For osteoarthritis do yoga, Surya namaskar one should do.