What is osteoarthritis?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Think of walking in stiff, hard shoes both without socks. Or, if said shoes are handy, do so. While socks provide cushioning (and contain odor), you'll notice they also provide a buffer to absorb the friction that would occur if the shoe rubbed up against your skin. Without the sock, your exposed skin would rub against the shoe, get irritated, blister, and become inflamed.
It's the same concept with your joints. As you lose your internal sock-meaning as that slippery, shock-absorbing cartilage between your bones thins--bones lose their ability to slide and they can rub directly against each other. When that happens, the effect is like stick on stick-and it hurts.
In simple form, that's what osteoarthritis is. It's a condition in which the cartilage that covers the bones and forms the surface of the joints becomes thinner, rougher, and less protective of the bone, so the bones grind against each other, and the joint becomes inflamed. It's painful and makes walking-or any kind of moving-difficult.
Osteoarthritis can occur in any of your joints, including your hands, hips, and spine, and your knees-which can be most troublesome. In fact, 85 percent of us who reach age 85 will have knee osteoarthritis if we don't do something to prevent it.
Unlike osteoporosis, osteoarthritis is a disease that you will feel-often-in the form of mild to severe pain, creaking, or swelling and stiffness in your joints.
Many things can make osteoarthritis more likely, including bad posture, overuse, heredity, obesity, lack of calcium, and lack of vitamin D and vitamin C. Luckily, you can prevent progression of the osteoporosis, and even reverse it, by following the right anti-aging guidelines.
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Think of walking in stiff, hard shoes both without socks. Or, if said shoes are handy, do so. While socks provide cushioning (and contain odor), you'll notice they also provide a buffer to absorb the friction that would occur if the shoe rubbed up... More -
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Joint deterioration, known as osteoarthritis, is so prevalent that it's expected to affect 40 million Americans by the year 2020. Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint, including your hips, hands, and spine. But there's a prevalence of joint deterioration in the knees - mainly because we rely on them so much to carry our body weight up stairs, around the house, and everywhere we go.
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Joint deterioration, known as osteoarthritis, is so prevalent that it's expected to affect 40 million Americans by the year 2020. Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint, including your hips, hands, and spine. But there's a prevalence of joint... More -
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis in which damage to the joints occurs gradually and continues to get worse. Common causes of osteoarthritis include injury, infection, and other diseases. Osteoarthritis tends to affect the hands, knees, hips, lower back, and neck.
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis in which damage to the joints occurs gradually and continues to get worse. Common causes of osteoarthritis include injury, infection, and other diseases. Osteoarthritis tends to affect the hands, knees, hips,... More -
Debra Fulghum Bruce PhD answered:Osteoarthritis or the “wear-and-tear” arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis, affecting about one-third of the adults in the United States. Osteoarthritis usually happens after overuse or injury to a joint, especially in joints that support weight over the years (the knees, hips, and back). Although osteoarthritis can occur in younger adults in their twenties, it is more common in those over age fifty. Overweight individuals and those with injuries to joints or a family history of osteoarthritis have a higher risk of getting this painful ailment.
With osteoarthritis, the cartilage that cushions a joint gradually wears away, resulting in pain with movement of a joint. You may feel some stiffness in the morning that wears off in a few minutes. If you have pain or stiffness that lasts more than a few weeks in your knees, back, hands, neck, or other joints, check with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
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Osteoarthritis or the “wear-and-tear” arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis, affecting about one-third of the adults in the United States. Osteoarthritis usually happens after overuse or injury to a joint, especially in... More -
Osteoarthritis (OA), also called degenerative joint disease (DJD) or osteoarthrosis, occurs when the cartilage in the joints begins to break down. The cartilage serves as a cushion between bones, allowing the joint to move without pain. Therefore, individuals with osteoarthritis experience pain and reduced mobility in their joints where cartilage is degrading. Osteoarthritis may affect any joint in the body.
The term arthritis literally means joint inflammation or swelling. More than 100 different diseases fall under the general category of arthritis. Arthritis conditions affect the joints, the tissues surrounding the affected joints, and other connective tissues. Common forms of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and periarthritis.
As the disease progresses, crevices and bone spurs, called oseophytes, may develop within the affected joint, increasing pain and decreasing mobility.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 20 million Americans and 70-90% of persons older than 75 years are affected by osteoarthritis. Although symptoms of osteoarthritis occur earlier in women (around the ages of 50-55), the prevalence among men and women is equal in older ages. In addition to age, risk factors include joint injury, obesity, and mechanical stress (such as joint stress when pitching a baseball or playing tennis).
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Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulOsteoarthritis (OA), also called degenerative joint disease (DJD) or osteoarthrosis, occurs when the cartilage in the joints begins to break down. The cartilage serves as a cushion between bones, allowing the joint to move without pain.... More -
Dr. Harris McIlwain answered:Osteoarthritis, also known as the “wear-and-tear” type, is the most common form of arthritis and usually affects those who are over age 50 or who have an injured joint such as an athletic injury of the knee. The cartilage, which usually cushions the joint, becomes worn and less efficient. Osteoarthritis is most common in the joints that bear the weight of the body - the knees, hips and spine - and in joints that have been injured. Osteoarthritis usually comes on gradually over the years and is more common in those who are overweight.
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Osteoarthritis, also known as the “wear-and-tear” type, is the most common form of arthritis and usually affects those who are over age 50 or who have an injured joint such as an athletic injury of the knee. The cartilage, which usually... More -
Eric Olsen answered:The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis. This type of arthritis is the result of injuries or wear and tear on the joints. It is characterized by degeneration of the cartilage in joints, so it seems reasonable that the risk of osteoarthritis would go up with age; as we live longer, there is simply more time for our joints to suffer wear and tear and eventually wear out, becoming inflamed, stiff, and painful.
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The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis. This type of arthritis is the result of injuries or wear and tear on the joints. It is characterized by degeneration of the cartilage in joints, so it seems... More -
Dr. Grant Cooper answered:Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, a condition also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease. It is the wearing of the cartilage that covers and acts as a cushion inside joints; symptoms may include pain, stiffness, and/or inflammation.
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Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, a condition also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease. It is the wearing of the cartilage that covers and acts as a cushion inside joints; symptoms may include pain,... More -
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative arthritis where the cartilage in the joints gets stiff and then breaks down. It most commonly affects the weight bearing joints, especially the knees, but can affect any joint, especially if there has been a previous injury.Osteoarthritis is a degenerative arthritis where the cartilage in the joints gets stiff and then breaks down. It most commonly affects the weight bearing joints, especially the knees, but can affect any joint, especially if there has been a... More -
RealAge answered:Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that starts later in life, usually after age 50. The joints affected are mostly hips, knees, feet, and spine; rarely affect hands. Joint symptoms include pain and swelling. There is no pain symmetry; pain often affects only one joint. Bone symptoms are bony growths and blood test results are normal.
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that starts later in life, usually after age 50. The joints affected are mostly hips, knees, feet, and spine; rarely affect hands. Joint symptoms include pain and swelling. There is no pain symmetry; pain often... More -
Dr. Celeste Robb-Nicholson answered:Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is also called a degenerative joint disease because it results from the deterioration of the bones and cartilage that make up the joints. From ages 40 to 70, osteoarthritis is more common in women than men. Women more often have osteoarthritis in the hands and knees and are 10 times more likely to develop Heberden's nodes -- hard, bony growths that form on the joints nearest the fingertips. Osteoarthritis can result from genetics and also from trauma or repeated stress.
In the knees, osteoarthritis may be the result of years of skiing, tennis, or running, but also from excess weight. Women with this problem may find it increasingly difficult to walk, climb stairs, or get up from a chair.
Osteoarthritis of the hand often starts with stiffness and soreness of the joint at the base of the thumb, particularly in the morning. Some people with osteoarthritis of the hand may find that with age, their hands thicken and become stiff. Stiffness is gradually followed by pain or instability. In other people, pain and stiffness may subside over time, leaving only enlarged joints as reminders.Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is also called a degenerative joint disease because it results from the deterioration of the bones and cartilage that make up the joints. From ages 40 to 70, osteoarthritis is more common in women... More -
Dr. Michael T Murray answered:Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, is a form of arthritis (inflammation of a joint) caused by degeneration of cartilage. Cartilage serves an important role in joint function. Its gel-like nature provides protection to the ends of bones by acting as a shock absorber. Without the cartilage in the joint, bone literally rubs against bone, leading to pain, deformity, inflammation, and limitation of motion in the joint.
Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, is a form of arthritis (inflammation of a joint) caused by degeneration of cartilage. Cartilage serves an important role in joint function. Its gel-like nature provides protection to the... More -
Dr. Keith Hechtman of Baptist Health South Florida answered:Osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage in the joints. The most common symptoms are pain and loss of range of motion. Deterioration of articular cartilage, the smooth, slippery, fibrous connective tissue that acts as a protective cushion between bones, is the main problem associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage in the joints. The most common symptoms are pain and loss of range of motion. Deterioration of articular cartilage, the smooth, slippery, fibrous connective tissue that... More -
Healthwise answered:Osteoarthritis is the type of arthritis that many people get as they age. It happens when the cartilage that cushions your joints like your knees and hips gradually breaks down. Then the bones rub against each other. This causes damage and pain. There are many treatments that can help with the pain and make it easier to move.Osteoarthritis is the type of arthritis that many people get as they age. It happens when the cartilage that cushions your joints like your knees and hips gradually breaks down. Then the bones rub against each other. This causes damage and pain.... More -
Dr. Suhail Kumar of Greenville Health System answered:Osteoarthritis is a chronic, progressive arthritis resulting from a loss of articular cartilage and an increase in subchondral bone. It is the leading cause of disability in the United States affecting nearly 30 million people. The degenerative nature of the condition progresses with increasing age and increased mechanical stress on the joint.
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Osteoarthritis is a chronic, progressive arthritis resulting from a loss of articular cartilage and an increase in subchondral bone. It is the leading cause of disability in the United States affecting nearly 30 million people. The... More
