A special 'knee' walk to sensitise people about bone and joint health issues and ways to prevent arthritis was organised here today to mark the eve of 'Bone and Joint Day'.
Organised by the Delhi Orthopaedic Association, which is observing the 'Bone and Joint week' (July 29 to Aug 4), the walk was flagged off from the Lodi gardens here in which patients with knee problems participated and walked with a slogan "Save the Bones and Save the Joints" to create awareness.
"The core idea of this day is the belief that strength of the nation lies in strong bones of countrymen. It's an effort to sensitise people about the remedial steps to prevent development of preventable bone and joint disabilities so that they remain healthy," said Jitender Maheshwari, senior consultant, orthopaedics at Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research and director, Knee and Shoulder Clinic.
A special doctor-patient interaction to highlight problems and solution for Arthritis was also conducted.
Maheshwari said, "after 30 years the bone looses in volume by one per cent every year and after menopause in females by three per cent every year. The severe reduction in bone volume is manifested as 'osteoporosis'."
He also said, India being the Arthritis capital of the world, we have seven per cent that is 84 million population above 65 years of age with joint arthritis and osteoporosis.
"The loss of bone is such a slow process that it is diagnosed only when severe bone loss occurs and patient has developed fracture with trivial trauma. Bone loss can be minimised by good nutritious diet and physical exercises. Early morning and evening sun exposure allows body to make vitamin D in the human body. These simple steps can improve health of bones and joints," he added.
