What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis, or OA, is the most common form of arthritis. It’s caused by breakdown of the cartilage in your joints—the tissue that cushions each joint and lets you move without pain. The result is that the bones rub together when you move, causing inflammation, pain, and loss of function.

OA usually affects joints like knees, hips, hands, and fingers first. As the condition worsens, it can affect more joints throughout the body. While there are treatments for osteoarthritis, it’s a progressive condition. Your symptoms will likely get worse over time as your symptoms worsen and more joints are affected.

The human body has two types of joints: synovial joints and fibrous joints. Synovial joints are characterized by the presence of a joint cavity filled with synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant between the bones. In a synovial joint such as the knee or elbow, there is a smooth layer of hyaline cartilage on both sides of the joint. The hyaline cartilage acts as a soft cushion that prevents rubbing between the bones and also allows for smooth movement between them.

Osteoarthritis develops in response to damage to this soft tissue, often resulting from excessive wear and tear associated with aging or other conditions like obesity and repetitive stress injuries. OA can also occur in people without any history of injury or trauma to their joints, though this type is more rare and often referred to as primary OA.

Two main types of osteoarthritis

Generally, OA can be classified into two broad categories—primary OA and secondary OA. Primary OA is also referred to as degenerative arthritis or mechanical arthrosis, meaning that this type of OA has no underlying pathology. This form of the disease is believed to result primarily from aging and wear-and-tear on joints. Secondary OA differs in that there is an underlying cause for the breakdown of cartilage. Common causes include injury to the joint, such as a fracture; joint infection; metabolic diseases like diabetes; genetic predisposition; or obesity.

Primary OA is the most common type, and it happens when normal wear and tear of cartilage leads to damage. This can be due to genetics, physical trauma, repetitive strain or aging.

Primary OA is also more severe than secondary OA, which involves factors other than cartilage damage that affect the joints. In secondary OA, there’s a lack of blood flow to the joints, abnormal growth of bone tissue in joints or various inflammatory diseases that can cause pain.

Secondary osteoarthritis is caused by injuries to joints, too much pressure on joints, skeletal abnormalities or diseases that decrease the blood supply to the joint cartilage. These factors lead to joint damage and inflammation and later on to pain.

In addition, there are risk factors that can lead to osteoarthritis: lack of exercise, obesity, smoking and genetics. But you should know that despite these factors, there are ways to reduce your risk of getting osteoarthritis: losing weight if you’re overweight or obese; eat healthy food; exercise regularly; quit smoking if you smoke; wear comfortable shoes; drink plenty of water; take supplements such as glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate to relieve pain and help the body repair damaged cartilage.

What is cartilage?

Cartilage is a type of connective tissue that is softer than bone, but more rigid than ligament. In humans, it serves as a shock absorber in many places, including where the ribs meet the sternum, the nose, and the ear. It can be found in almost all areas of the body where two bones are close together. Cartilage is composed of cells called chondrocytes and ground substance, which is filled with molecules that help give it strength and elasticity.

The most abundant type of cartilage is hyaline cartilage, which makes up most of the human body’s cartilage and gives joints their flexibility. It contains plenty of water, making it soft enough to bend easily but tough enough to withstand heavy use. It also contains small amounts of collagen fibers, which give it its tensile strength. The hyaline cartilage that gives your nose its shape—as well as the ends of your ribs and the tips of your ears—is covered by a thin layer of skin-like epithelium that keeps bacteria from getting inside and causing infection while allowing some exchange between air and blood vessels that supply nutrients to and remove waste from the cells.

Who is affected by osteoarthritis?

Millions of people suffer from osteoarthritis, often called degenerative arthritis. It is the most common form of arthritis and the leading cause of disability among Americans over age 65. Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint in the body, but it is most common in the hands and knees. Many people do not know they have osteoarthritis until they are diagnosed with other joint-related diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. A person’s risk for developing osteoarthritis increases with age and is greater for women than men.

Osteoarthritis affects the lives of millions of people worldwide. In the United States alone, it is estimated that osteoarthritis affects 27 million adults. As the elderly population continues to grow and baby boomers continue to age, the number of people suffering from osteoarthritis is expected to rise significantly in the coming decades.

What are the risk factors for osteoarthritis?

The risk factors for osteoarthritis include:

• Age: Osteoarthritis tends to start after age 45. As we get older, our bodies become less flexible and more prone to injuries. Joints also wear down over time due to minor injuries and repetitive stresses such as bending, twisting, and lifting heavy objects.
• Genetics: Some people are more likely to develop OA than others because they have inherited genes from their parents that make them susceptible to arthritis.
• Obesity: People who are overweight are more likely to develop knee and hip OA. Extra weight around the joints puts extra stress on them which can lead to pain and disability.
• Inactivity: Not getting enough exercise wears down joints faster than if they were not used at all. This can lead to joint pain caused by OA before you turn 30!
• Age of first pregnancy: It takes extra time for your body to recover after giving birth.

What causes osteoarthritis?

The exact cause of osteoarthritis isn’t known, but it’s partially caused by a breakdown of the cartilage (which acts as a cushion between bones) in a joint like your knee or hip. The breakdown of this cartilage causes bone to rub directly against bone. This friction can lead to further damage and symptoms. Other factors that might contribute to osteoarthritis include:

• Your genes: People who come from families with a history of osteoarthritis may be at higher risk for developing the condition
• Obesity: Excess weight stresses joints and bones, potentially leading to osteoarthritis
• Age: Osteoarthritis is most commonly found in people over the age of 60
• Lack of exercise: Moving your muscles and joints regularly can help strengthen your bones and reduce your chance of developing osteoarthritis.

How is osteoarthritis treated?

Osteoarthritis is a condition affecting joints. It can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and a decreased range of motion. The ways in which osteoarthritis is treated depend on the severity of symptoms and the age of the individual. Treatments are most effective when used to manage osteoarthritis before symptoms become too severe.

Clinical management is typically the first line of treatment for mild osteoarthritis. This involves rest, ice packs, medication, physical therapy, or injections to help manage pain and improve joint mobility.

When medications are ineffective or contraindicated, doctors may recommend surgery to repair or replace damaged cartilage.

Intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections have also been found to be effective at relieving pain and improving mobility. These injections are sometimes used in conjunction with physical therapy.

Osteoarthritis can also be treated through non-surgical methods such as weight loss and smoking cessation.

What can Doctor recommend if you have osteoarthritis?

If you have osteoarthritis, your doctor may recommend certain lifestyle changes or medications to help you manage your symptoms. While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are a variety of therapies, including lifestyle interventions and medications, that can help relieve pain and improve mobility. Both types of practices have been shown to reduce pain, stiffness and physical disability in patients with osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting about 27 million people in the United States. It occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears down over time, causing the bones to rub against each other. Symptoms include joint pain, stiffness and swelling.