What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative joint disease that is commonly associated with arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage breaks down within any joint within the body, usually within the joints that bear the weight of the body such as the knees, spine, and hips. Osteoarthritis can also affect the neck, large toe, fingers and neck.

What osteoarthritis does is cause the cartilage to stiffen and lose elasticity which makes it susceptible to damage over time. As the cartilage begins to wear away and deteriorate, the tendons and ligaments stretch which causes pain and as the condition becomes more pronounces, the bone eventually rub together.

For the most part, people over the age of 60 have osteoarthritis though the severity of the malady differs from person to person. Though osteoarthritis affects more than 21 million Unites States citizens, women over 50 years of age commonly manifest symptoms more than men.  

Osteoarthritis: Know Your Options

When it comes to osteoarthritis, treatments are relatively simple and range from lifestyle changes, surgery and medication.

Weight reduction is a major factor when it comes to reducing stress, wear and tear on the toughened cartilage, keeping it from degrading. Weight reduction is key to making sure that that not only are the tendons and muscles being stretched beyond what is safe, but also in keeping from the actual bones from striking and rubbing against one another, causing significant pain.

In treating osteoarthritis treating joint pain and inflammation while retaining joint functionality is paramount. Medication is used primarily for osteoarthritis and may be taken orally, injected, or used topically to reduce joint inflammation and or pain.

Rest is also a primary means of relief for osteoarthritis pain as it relieves pain and swelling.

What Causes Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative arthritis that slowly wears away the cartilage as an amalgamation of diseases that abnormalities of the musculature and tendons that can erode the bone.

Clinical symptoms of osteoarthritis include tenderness, joint pain, stiffness, creaking, inflammation, and the locking of joints.

When it comes to contracting osteoarthritis there are a variety of conditions that make it possible to manifest in a patient: heredity often plays a large part in the initiation of osteoarthritis. While the bone may become injured, the body reacts by creating more bone and calcium deposits that in turn create even more deposits – a process referred to as eburnation.

In the United States, osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and according to the American Medical Association is the leading cause of disability within the country, effecting more than 27 million citizens.