Home Bones, Joints and Muscles Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis

by Alivia Nyhan

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints, which leads to pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint in the body but is most common in the hips, knees, and hands. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but there are treatments that can help relieve the symptoms.

What is osteoarthritis?

An osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis that occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. This can cause the bones to rub together, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body, but it most commonly affects the joints in your hands, knees, hips, and spine.

What are the risk factors for osteoarthritis?

Several risk factors for developing osteoarthritis include age, family history, obesity, previous joint injury, and repetitive joint use. While osteoarthritis can occur in any joint, it is most common in the knees, hips, and hands.

What causes osteoarthritis? There are many possible causes of osteoarthritis, but the most common cause is aging. As we age, our joints begin to wear out and degenerate. This can be made worse by activities that stress our joints, such as repetitive motion, obesity, and injury.

How do I know if I have osteoarthritis?

You may have osteoarthritis if you have pain and stiffness in your joints that gets worse with age. Other symptoms include grating or crackling sounds when you move your joints and feeling like your joints are “catching” or “locking up.” You may also have trouble moving your joints through their full range of motion. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor.