What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease caused by the breakdown of cartilage-the firm, rubbery tissue that cushions bones at joints. Healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over one another and absorbs energy from the shock of physical movement. In osteoarthritis, cartilage breaks down and wears away. Osteoarthritis generally develops in the hands, knees, hips, and spine.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that can result from wear and tear on the joints, like the knees, hips and fingers, or from an injury. Many people may have only mild discomfort. But as cartilage covering the ends of bones in the joints wears away, many people may have considerable pain, inflammation, and loss of movement. OA occurs more often as people grow older and is the most common joint disease. About one third of people over age 35 show some signs of OA when they have x-rays. In addition to aging, other risk factors for OA include being overweight, injuries, and diabetes. What is rheumatoid arthritis? The main symptom of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is inflammationredness, heat, and painat the joints. RA affects the joint membranes, cartilage, and bones the way OA does. But unlike OA, RA can also affect the whole bodywith loss of appetite, a general feeling of being unwell, and other symptoms. RA takes very different forms in different people. Some people have only a mild form of
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is caused by the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage is the tough elastic material that covers and protects the ends of bones. Bits of cartilage may break off and cause pain and swelling in the joint between bones. This pain and swelling is called inflammation. Over time the cartilage may wear away entirely, and the bones will rub together. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint but usually affects hips, knees, hands and spine.
