Table of Contents

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a disorder that affects the joints. The breakdown of cartilage that covers the ends of bones in a joint causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. It acts as a cushion between the bones. When this cartilage breaks down and wears away, it causes pain, swelling, and problems moving the joint. Osteoarthritis causes changes in the bones and deterioration of the connective tissues that attach muscles to bones and hold the joints together. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body, including your hands, feet, spine, hips or knees. It occurs most often in adults older than 45 years of age, especially women. You are more likely to get osteoarthritis if you are overweight or have had an injury to a joint. The condition cannot be cured but physical therapy can help ease symptoms.

What are the signs and symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

Over time, you may lose motion and have trouble moving your joint normally. Osteoarthritis affects people in different ways and can affect any joint. However, it most commonly affects the hands, knees, hips, and spine. The symptoms of osteoarthritis can vary from person to person for several reasons:

  1. The location of the affected joint or joints
  2. The severity of the disease
  3. The presence of other health problems

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

  • Pain with movement
  • Joint stiffness that is worse in the morning or after sitting for long periods of time
  • Swelling and tenderness in the affected joint or joints
  • Reduced range of motion in one or more joints
  • A grating sensation when using the joint
  • Bone spurs (extra pieces of bone) growing on your joints

How many people have Osteoarthritis?

Millions of people suffer from arthritis and related conditions. In fact, 1 in 5 people have a form of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is thought to be a result of wear and tear on joints over time, but there are other risk factors that can contribute to it, such as obesity and joint injuries. It is believed that osteoarthritis affects at least 27 million Americans.

The condition causes pain and stiffness in the joints, but it can also lead to inflammation in other parts of the body, including:

  • heart
  • eyes
  • glands
  • lungs

What causes Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is usually caused by wear and tear on your joints. Wear and tear can happen over many years, even decades. The wear and tear causes a breakdown of cartilage, the tissue that protects your bones in a joint. Cartilage provides a slick, cushioning surface for joint motion. When this tissue breaks down, the bones rub together. This rubbing causes pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint.

Risk factors for osteoarthritis include:

  • Joint injury
  • Obesity
  • Growing older
  • Weak thigh muscles

Joint injury can increase your risk of osteoarthritis. An example is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury of the knee. A second example is finger joints damaged by gout or rheumatoid arthritis. Obesity increases your risk because extra weight puts more stress on weight-bearing joints such as hips and knees. Growing older increases your risk because the cartilage in your joints gradually wears down with use over time. Weak thigh muscles increase your risk because strong muscles help support joints.

What are the risk factors for Osteoarthritis?

The risk factors for osteoarthritis are age (if you are over the age of 65), past injuries such as broken bones, joint infections or previous surgery on a joint, a family history of osteoarthritis, being overweight and having other medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. If you have one or some of these risk factors, it is recommended that you schedule an appointment with your doctor so that they can give you a diagnosis. Your doctor will be able to tell you if your symptoms are related to osteoarthritis and can provide advice about treatment options.

The risk factors for osteoarthritis are:

  • Being overweight or obese
  • Previous joint injury
  • Repetitive joint use in work or sports
  • Family history of osteoarthritis

How is Osteoarthritis diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and review your medical history. He or she will also do a physical exam. During your exam, the doctor may check for tenderness in your joints and range of motion problems. When he or she moves your joints, you might hear popping or cracking sounds called crepitus. In addition to a physical exam, you may have one or more of the following tests: X-ray. This test can show changes in the shape and alignment of your joints. The space between your bones gets narrower as cartilage wears away. Over time, the ends of bones may grow larger as they try to repair themselves. Blood test. A blood test can help rule out other types of arthritis that may cause similar symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for example, causes inflammation throughout the body, not just in the joints. Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis). If a joint is swollen and painful, your doctor may remove fluid from it by inserting a needle into it and using gentle suction to drain it out. The fluid may be sent to a lab to look for signs of infection or other health problems.

How is Osteoarthritis treated?

Osteoarthritis treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving joint function. You may need to try several different treatments, or combinations of treatments, before you determine what works best for you. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, medications, alternative therapies, assistive devices and possibly surgery.

Lifestyle changes

Making certain changes in your daily habits can often help relieve osteoarthritis symptoms, improve joint function, and slow disease progression.

Maintain a healthy weight. Extra pounds put extra stress on weight-bearing joints, such as your hips and knees. Losing even a little weight can lessen pain and help joints work better.

Exercise regularly. Regular exercise is good for your joints; it keeps the muscles around the affected joint strong and provides flexibility and endurance. Stretching exercises are especially helpful because they increase range of motion in your joints. Walking is an excellent way to gain these benefits without putting too much stress on your joints. If you’re overweight, swimming may be a good choice for aerobic exercise because it’s easy on the joints.

Use hot and cold therapy. Heat from warm baths, a heating pad or moist heat packs applied for up to 20 minutes at a time can temporarily relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis

How can I manage Osteoarthritis and improve my quality of life?

There are many simple things you can do to manage your osteoarthritis and improve your quality of life. You don’t have to resign yourself to a life of pain and discomfort! Follow these tips to get back on track:

  • Take care of your body by maintaining a healthy weight.
  • Keep a positive outlook, learn more about osteoarthritis, and participate in activities that bring you joy.
  • Stay active, stay strong and keep moving!
  • Get involved in programs that teach you how to manage pain, such as cognitive behavioural therapy.

While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are plenty of things you can do to manage the condition, decrease pain and inflammation and improve your mobility. Here are a few tips:

  • Get enough exercise: Regular exercise can help increase strength, flexibility and endurance which will help you maintain your mobility as the disease progresses. It also stimulates the release of endorphins, which can reduce pain levels.
  • Maintain a healthy weight: Excess pounds put stress on bones and joints and increase swelling. Losing excess weight can reduce symptoms.
  • Eat a low-fat diet with lots of fruits and vegetables: This will help you maintain a healthy weight, but it will also provide anti-inflammatory nutrients that can reduce inflammation and swelling.
  • Use hot or cold packs as needed: Cold packs applied to painful joints may reduce inflammation; heat may ease stiffness in morning or after periods of inactivity.
  • Get regular medical care: Regular appointments with your physician will allow for early detection of any worsening symptoms or other changes in your health that may be related to osteoarthritis. Your doctor can also monitor your response to treatment therapies.

Is there an Osteoarthritis clinical trials?

Yes, there are clinical trials for osteoarthritis. Some of these studies involve people with a normal risk of getting the disease, while others are meant for people who have already been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a very common condition, and researchers are constantly studying it to better understand how it works and how to improve treatments.

Most osteoarthritis clinical trials use study participants who have not been diagnosed with the disease but meet certain criteria, such as family history or other factors that could put them at risk. These studies often look at ways to prevent the disease from developing in the first place. Other clinical trials focus on people who have already been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, and may be looking for new ways to treat the condition. Researchers use study participants as subjects in their tests because they’re seeking answers about the way osteoarthritis works or new treatments that could be helpful to many people.