Arthritis affects over 350 million people worldwide, including millions in India where early diagnosis and access to rheumatologic care remain major challenges. This World Arthritis Day highlights the need for awareness, timely intervention, and lifestyle modifications to improve mobility and quality of life for those living with arthritis.
How can India strengthen early detection and community-level management of arthritis to reduce long-term disability?
India can reduce arthritis-related disability by promoting early screening, empowering ASHAs, and strengthening primary-level rehab and awareness. Early action prevents pain from becoming permanent.
This is now a most common disease in most people mainly in women.
Raise public and primary healthcare awareness about early arthritis signs like joint stiffness, pain, and swelling to encourage timely medical consultation.
Train primary care providers in arthritis detection and referral protocols to ensure early diagnosis and treatment initiation.
Implement community programs promoting lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and access to rehabilitation to manage symptoms and prevent disability.
India can strengthen early arthritis detection by integrating screening programs into primary healthcare and training frontline workers to recognize early symptoms. Expanding community awareness, tele-rheumatology services, and affordable access to physiotherapy and medication can help reduce long-term disability.
Early detection and management of arthritis is the best way to prevent arthritis related complications. Screening for the disease should be incorporated in annual health check ups with prompt management techniques in place. Incorporating weight training exercises, physiotherapy with good nutrition can help with management of the condition.
Most common disease
We can bring about early detection right from the PHC level by screening of all patients beyond a certain predetermined age