Case study 4 Adele has enjoyed an active life, playing golf and basketball throu
ID: 127891 • Letter: C
Question
Case study 4
Adele has enjoyed an active life, playing golf and basketball through most of her adult years. She is now 68 years old and has received a diagnosis and sudden onset of osteoarthritis, resulting in her becoming unable to ambulate without support.
How can you help Adele recognise changes regarding her ability to participate in activities because of the arthritis, versus changes associated with the usual ageing process?
Given Adele has had an active sporting life, what types of activities could you support Adele to participate in?
What aids and appliances could Adele use to support her to remain in independent living for as long as possible?
Adele’s sister arrives with an electrical foot massager, saying she believes it will help Adele’s circulation and ease her arthritic pain. What suggestion/s will you give Adele around the use of the ...
Explanation / Answer
1). OA is mainly constituted by progressive loss of cartilage tissue, accompanied by a raised thickness of the subchondral plate, osteophytes. Osteoarthritis is linked to precise risk factors or causes including age, joint trauma, injury, or obesity. In this, the synovial fluid decreases, which causes the movement more painful. Symptoms include deep severe pain, morning stiffness for about an hour, becomes stiff after resting. Although age limits the functioning of skeletal systems, the patients with osteoarthritis are at higher risk of bone deformities and fractures than the other people of the same age but without osteoarthritis.
2). Adele is at higher risk of falls, so, he must not participate in basketball, which increases the risk of fractures. Cardiovascular and aerobic exercises such as running, walking, and swimming can be practiced to improve the joint mobility.
3). To remain independent, Adele has to reduce the exposure to factors that increase the risk of falls, take nutritious food, follow regular exercise and the medications prescribed.
4). Although electrical foot massager may help to improve the circulation, its effectiveness depends on the patient's condition. Taking medical advice before proceeding is required.