What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the degeneration (wearing away) of cartilage that occurs between the bones in a joint. OA is also referred to as degenerative arthritis.
OA affects weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips, and spine, but also affects joints that perform repetitive actions, such as the hands and shoulders.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
- The onset of symptoms usually starts between the ages of 40 and 60 years.
- OA can affect one joint or many joints.
- Stiffness in the affected joint(s) can occur upon awakening or when an individual has not moved for long period of time. Stiffness usually lasts for less than 30 minutes.
- Other symptoms include, but are not limited to swelling, redness, heat (warm to touch), tenderness, and limitation of movement.
Treatment is aimed at relieving pain, improving mobility, and decreasing inflammation.