8 Visual Signs Of Osteoarthritis

4. Deformed Joints

When swelling occurs so much as to cause joints to become deformed, it makes common daily tasks difficult to accomplish. Things like buttoning a shirt, chopping vegetables, and climbing stairs require the help of others. Some people find they have to quit longtime hobbies like knitting and bowling because their joints to not work as well as they used to. Knobbing fingers and bow-legs are common outcomes.

3. Reduced Range of Motion

Along with pain and stiffness, therange of motion is reduced in many people with osteoarthritis. It may be difficult to reach for things or stretch the legs to drive a car safely. Physical therapy can help, as do devices to support the joints, like knee braces and finger splints. If sufferers have difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep, sometimes using a firmer mattress or neck or back brace is necessary.