Joint Pain Causes

Causes of JOINT PAIN

Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage is a type of connective tissue which joins two bones together to form a joint.2 Normal cartilage protects a joint and allows it to move smoothly. Cartilage also acts like a buffer and absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, such as when you walk. Without the normal level of cartilage, the bones rub together. This causes swelling and stiffness.²

Apart from arthritis, joint swelling and damage may result from other causes such as:²

• Rheumatoid arthritis: Body's immune system attacks healthy joints out of malfunction
• Broken bone
• General "wear and tear" in joints
• Infection of joints
• Crystals such as uric acid accumulating in joints to develop a condition named gout

In India, around 30% women aged between 45 to 60 years and 68% women aged above 68 years have osteoarthritis.3 The cause of Sandhivata in Ayurveda is linked to improper diet, life style and old age, causing degeneration of body elements (dhatu kshaya), worsening of Vata; the humor responsible for all the movements and functions of the body and reduction in Shleshaka Kapha - fluid in the joints. The aggravated Vata brings rukshyata (dryness), laghutva (lightness or porousness), kharatva (coarseness) in the joints causing degeneration.⁴