Office Workers and Seniors Must Know: 5 Common Bone Clinic Diseases, Joint and Knee Pain, and How to Cure Them Completely

The "Friday Health" column invites you to check the five most common bone clinic diseases found in working adults to seniors, ranging from office syndrome to knee osteoarthritis, along with proper treatment and prevention guidance from Ramathibodi Hospital doctors.

An in-depth look at the five most common bone clinic diseases: risks at every age, key pain areas, and effective treatments.

Bone and joint problems do not only affect the elderly. Nowadays, lifestyle changes including office work and physical overuse have led younger generations to increasingly seek bone clinic services. The column"Friday Health"has compiled information on the "5 Most Common Bone Clinic Diseases" so everyone can recognize symptoms early and care for themselves properly.

Dr. Peeraphat Lertwiram, Sports Medicine specialist from the Orthopedics Department at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, provided detailed information about these five popular diseases as follows.

1. Office Syndrome

This disease is very common among working-age people. The main cause is prolonged improper posture, such as looking down at a mobile phone or sitting at a non-ergonomic computer desk.

Key symptoms: It starts with chronic muscle pain, a dull ache around the neck or shoulders. Palpation reveals muscle knots, and pressing causes radiating pain to the back of the head or upper arm.

Treatment approach:  

• Correct posture adjustment according to ergonomic principles is the best treatment.
• Apply warm compresses to the painful area to relieve symptoms.
• Take pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed by a doctor.
• Perform stretching exercises to relax tight muscles.
• In some cases, acupuncture may be used to relax muscles and reduce pain.

2. Knee Osteoarthritis

This results from natural body wear and tear with age, causing joint fluid to decrease and cartilage to wear down, mostly seen in people aged 50 and above.

Key symptoms: Knee pain from prolonged use, especially stiffness in the morning with inability to fully straighten the knee. If untreated, it may cause bow-legged or knock-kneed deformities.

Prevention and treatment:

• Those overweight should lose weight to reduce pressure on the knee joints prematurely.
• Early treatment of tendon injuries around the knee is crucial to prevent future osteoarthritis.
• Avoid sitting on the floor, kneeling, or squatting for long periods as these increase joint friction.
• Avoid high-impact sports or exercises; instead, choose"swimming"which uses water to support and reduce joint stress effectively.
• Exercise to strengthen muscles around the knee, hips, and both front and back thighs.
• Take painkillers, topical treatments, or patches under medical supervision.
• Injections into the knee such as hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be considered individually. Surgery to replace the knee joint is an option if conservative treatment fails.

3. Trigger Finger

Common in patients aged 30-50 and above, especially housewives who do frequent household chores or people who use their hands heavily for work.

Key symptoms: Not just pain, but difficulty straightening the finger normally, requiring extra effort or assistance from the other hand. This is caused by swelling of the tendon or tight tendon sheath restricting tendon movement.

Treatment approach:

• Soak in warm water and gently massage the locked area to help the tendon sheath expand and reduce pain.
• Steroid injections at the affected site to reduce inflammation.
• Modify hand usage to reduce strain.
• If symptoms persist, minor surgery (about 15-20 minutes) to cut and release the tight tendon sheath can improve finger movement and relieve pain.

4. Torn Shoulder Tendon

This can occur in young people often due to accidents, impacts, or sudden shoulder pulls, while in older adults it usually results from tendon degeneration with age, even without prior trauma.

Key symptoms: Shoulder pain when lifting the arm, especially in women who feel sharp pain reaching behind to fasten bras, along with nighttime discomfort.

Treatment approach:

• Reduce use of the affected arm, avoid lifting high or shoulder shaking movements.
• Take pain-relieving medication.
• Exercise to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder.
• If the tendon is torn due to injury or conservative treatment fails, surgery is recommended.

5. Plantar Fasciitis

A common disease causing heel pain, found in various age groups but mostly starting from age 40 and above.

Key symptoms: Severe heel pain upon the first step after waking, caused by contraction of the plantar fascia during sleep. Stretching the foot immediately causes strain and inflammation.

Treatment approach:  

• Control or reduce body weight to lessen heel pressure.
• Regularly stretch calves and the plantar fascia, for example by rolling a tennis ball under the foot to soften the fascia attachment.
• Choose shoes with extra cushioning at the heel.

If symptoms persist, doctors may consider shock wave therapy to stimulate fascia healing, steroid or PRP injections. Surgery is rare and reserved for severe cases.

Bone, joint, and tendon inflammation problems can affect all ages, from working adults facing office syndrome or trigger finger to seniors with knee osteoarthritis. Early symptom recognition, lifestyle changes, and timely medical treatment can reduce the chance of disease progression to the point of requiring surgery and help people return to a happy life.