What is osteoarthritis?Arthritis is a general term that means inflammation of the joints. There are dozens of types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type.
OA can be caused by a range of factors that include excess weight, joint injury, and aging (usually after 40). Any joint can be affected by OA, but it occurs most frequently in the hands, knees, hips, and spine.
The place where 2 bones meet is normally covered with a rubbery material called cartilage. This material allows the bones to slide over each without causing pain. When osteoarthritis sets in, the cartilage begins to break down. As it wears away, the bones in the joint start to rub against each other. This can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling.
The knee is a target site for OA and worldwide is the commonest single cause of lower-limb disability. It is a degenerative, “wear-and-tear” type of arthritis that occurs most often in people 50 years of age and older, but may occur in younger people, too. While age is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis of the knee, young people can get it, too. For some individuals, it may be hereditary. For others, osteoarthritis of the knee can result from injury or infection or even from being overweight
Patients who have osteoarthritis of the hip sometimes have problems walking, pain, aching, stiffness, and restricted movement. Diagnosis by a sports medicine specialist or orthopedist is necessary because it can be hard to diagnose as pain can appear in different locations, including the groin, thigh, buttocks, or knee. The pain can be stabbing and sharp or it can be a dull ache, and the hip is often stiff.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder most often occurs in people who are over age 50. In younger people, osteoarthritis can result from an injury or trauma, such as a fractured or dislocated shoulder. This is known as posttraumatic arthritis. Osteoarthritis may also be hereditary.
The shoulder is made up of two joints, the acromioclavicular (AC) joint and the glenohumeral joint. The AC joint is the point osteoarthritis is more commonly found in, where the collarbone, or clavicle, meets the acromion, which is the tip of the shoulder blade.
