Osteoarthritis Treatment
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time. Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic joint OA is also called wear-and-tear arthritis, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative joint disease.
Etiology/Causes
OA is caused by joint damage. This damage can have a cumulative effect over time, which is why age is one of the main causes of the joint damage leading to OA. The older you are, the more repetitive stress you’ve had on your joints.Other causes of joint damage include :
- past injury, such as torn cartilage, dislocated joints, or ligament injuries.
- joint malformation
- obesity
- poor posture
Clinical Presentation/Symptoms
The most common symptoms of OA include:
- joint pain
- Stiffness in the joint
- Loss of flexibility and reduced range of motion
- Tenderness or discomfort when pressing on the affected areas with your fingers
- Inflammation
- Crepitus, or grating, crackling, clicking, or popping sounds when you move your joints
- Bone spurs, or extra lumps of bone, which are typically painless
As OA becomes more advanced, the pain associated with it may become more intense. Over time, swelling in the joint and surrounding area may also occur.
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of osteoarthritis include:
- Older The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age.
- Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
- Carrying extra body weight contributes to osteoarthritis in several ways, and the more you weigh, the greater your risk. Increased weight adds stress to weight-bearing joints, such as your hips and knees. Also, fat tissue produces proteins that can cause harmful inflammation in and around your joints.
- Joint injuries. Injuries, such as those that occur when playing sports or from an accident, can increase the risk of Even injuries that occurred many years ago and seemingly healed can increase your risk of osteoarthritis.
- Repeated stress on the joint. If your job or a sport you play places repetitive stress on a joint, that joint might eventually develop
- Some people inherit a tendency to develop osteoarthritis.
- Bone Some people are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage.
- Certain metabolic These include diabetes and a condition in which your body has too much iron.
