osteoarthritis
Sign in to saveOsteoarthritis is a type of degenerative joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone. A form of arthritis, it is believed to be the fourth leading cause of disability in the world, with an estimated 240 million people worldwide having activity-limiting osteoarthritis. The most common symptoms are joint pain and stiffness. Usually the symptoms progress slowly over years. Other symptoms may include joint swelling, decreased range of motion, and, when the back is affected, weakness or numbness of the arms and legs. The most commonly involved joints are the two
AI overview
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage and bone within joints break down, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced movement. It affects an estimated 240 million people worldwide and is considered the fourth leading cause of disability globally, making it a significant health concern.
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Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Osteoarthritis
- Medical condition (new).image
- Heberden-Arthrose.JPG
- Medical condition (new).alt
- Photograph of elderly person's hands depicting hard knobs described in caption
- Medical condition (new).caption
- The formation of hard knobs at the middle finger joints (known as Bouchard's nodes) and at the farthest joints of the fingers (known as Heberden's nodes) is a common feature of osteoarthritis in the hands.
- Medical condition (new).field
- Rheumatology, orthopedics
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- Arthrosis, osteoarthrosis, degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Joint pain, stiffness, joint swelling, decreased range of motion
- Medical condition (new).onset
- Over years
- Medical condition (new).causes
- Connective tissue disease, previous joint injury, abnormal joint or limb development, inherited factors
- Medical condition (new).risks
- Overweight, legs of different lengths, job with high levels of joint stress
Article
44 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Causes
- Primary
- Occupational
- Secondary
- Pathophysiology
- Diagnosis
- Classification
- Management
- Exercise
- Physical measures
- Thermotherapy
- Medication
- By mouth
- Topical
- Joint injections
- Steroids
- Hyaluronic acid
- Platelet-rich plasma
- Radiotherapy
- Ablation of knee sensory nerves
- Surgery
- Bone fusion
- Joint replacement
- Shoulder replacement
- Other surgical options
- Unverified treatments
- Glucosamine and chondroitin
- Supplements
- Acupuncture and other interventions
- Epidemiology
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
- United States
- Europe
- India
- History
- Etymology
- Other animals
- Research
- Therapies
- Cause
- Diagnostic biomarkers
- References
- External links
Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone. A form of arthritis, it is believed to be the fourth leading cause of disability in the world, with an estimated 240 million people worldwide having activity-limiting osteoarthritis. The most common symptoms are joint pain and stiffness. Usually the symptoms progress slowly over years. Other symptoms may include joint swelling, decreased range of motion, and, when the back is affected, weakness or numbness of the arms and legs. The most commonly involved joints are the two near the ends of the fingers and the joint at the base of the thumbs, the knee and hip joints, and the joints of the neck and lower back. The symptoms can interfere with work and normal daily activities. Unlike some other types of arthritis, only the joints, not internal organs, are affected.
Possible causes include previous joint injury, abnormal joint or limb development, and inherited factors. Risk is greater in those who are overweight, have legs of different lengths, or have jobs that result in high levels of joint stress. Osteoarthritis is believed to be caused by mechanical stress on the joint and low grade inflammatory processes. It develops as cartilage is lost and the underlying bone becomes affected. As pain may make it difficult to exercise, muscle loss may occur. Diagnosis is typically based on signs and symptoms, with medical imaging and other tests used to support or rule out other problems. In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis, in osteoarthritis the joints do not become hot or red.