[Sportschosun Jang Jong-ho] Kim Tae-hyun, head of orthopedics at Himchan Hospital, appeared on tvN (Total Variety Network)'s "The Choice of 7 Billion" on the 18th and explained the pain caused by arthritis, walking difficulties, and the importance of cartilage care. "The Choice of 7 Billion" is a current affairs and educational program that explores health information, treatments, and other wellness tips through cases from around the world.
The episode that day focused on "The Fear of Arthritis, Cartilage That Holds Life Together." It covered how arthritis affects daily life and walking ability, how pain develops as cartilage wears down, and how to manage joint health.
The program took a close look at cartilage wear, the main cause of arthritis. Cartilage in the knee joint is on average about 3 mm thick. It acts as a cushion, bearing loads several times the body's weight when walking or moving. But when cartilage wears away and becomes thinner, bone begins to strike bone directly, causing inflammation and pain.
Kim Tae-hyun said, "When arthritis patients complain of pain, they often describe it as feeling like their bones are being scraped raw. The pain caused by arthritis is beyond imagination." He added, "Damaged cartilage is difficult to regenerate naturally. Above all, joint cartilage often shows no special symptoms until more than 70% has worn away, so many people leave the damage untreated until it has progressed significantly."
As arthritis worsens, it can lead not only to pain but also to reduced walking ability. The program highlighted the seriousness of leaving arthritis untreated by showing overseas cases in which the condition made it difficult to use stairs or go outside, and mobility limits led to social isolation and a lower quality of life.
Kim Tae-hyun said, "Walking difficulties affect not only quality of life but also overall health." He explained, "As people spend more time lying down, the risk of poor blood circulation rises, and this can also affect cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, myocardial infarction, and stroke."
The program also introduced a range of other information, including the link between finger pain and knee arthritis, the impact of arthritis pain on depression, bad lifestyle habits that worsen arthritis, and various ways to overcome the condition.
Jang Jong-ho, bellho@sportschosun.com
