Health authorities say that there are over a hundred types of arthritis out there. One type that is affecting many is called osteoarthritis. In this article, you will come across what's referred to as qigong therapy, which is deemed highly effective for managing the symptoms of osteoarthritis without the need to take drugs.

Osteoarthritis, in a nutshell, is joint tissue wear and tear. More often than not, it can be due to time's passing. This is why a very common risk factor for osteoarthritis is aging. This only means that you are at higher risk of suffering from the dreaded joint disease the older you get.

Sadly, it's not just the elderly that osteoarthritis can pester. Doctors admit that there are a few other known risk factors for it. One of those is having excess pounds. Because the joints of someone who is overweight or obese are constantly stressed, it's very much likely for osteoarthritis to affect his or her weight bearing joints one day.

Another known risk factor is joint injury. If you're into sports or weightlifting and you injured a joint, there's a huge possibility for it to eventually develop osteoarthritis. Such is true even after the joint has fully bounced back.

Unfortunately, health authorities confirm that this type of arthritis tends to run in families. So in other words, you may suffer from it one day if you have immediate family members who have it. There are certain genes that can be passed by a parent to his or her offspring that are known to increase osteoarthritis risk.

It's very important to note that there's no available cure for osteoarthritis to date. It only means that it can affect you for life once it shows up. What's more, this joint disease is a progressive one. The symptoms you are experiencing may worsen as time passes.

Worry not because proper management of osteoarthritis can help considerably slow down its progression. For instance, you may get rid of unwanted pounds. Exercising on a regular basis is also scientifically proven to help keep the joint problem from worsening really quickly.

The current market offers drugs that can help in the management of the symptoms of osteoarthritis. They work by controlling the reason behind the aching of the affected joints, and that's inflammation. Constant administration of these medications, sad to say, is a bad idea. It's for the fact that they are known to cause various adverse side effects. There are also a variety of health problems that are linked to high doses of these pharmaceutical solutions, and some examples of those include liver damage and kidney failure.

Qigong is one of the most sought after natural solutions for osteoarthritis. Actually, it's exercise and martial arts from ancient China. Currently, it is also popular among those who wish to get rid of their chronic stress, clinical depression and anxiety disorder.

It yields impressive results as it maintains optimum joint mobility. Qigong promotes weight reduction, too, which is beneficial for anyone who is suffering from osteoarthritis. It's also known to reduce inflammation within.