Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease that is linked to cartilage breakdown and can occur in almost any joint in the body (mostly the ones that bear weight, such as the knee and hip). The elderly are not the only ones affected by osteoarthritis. Although it is more common in older people, athletes and younger individuals are also susceptible to suffer of osteoarthritis.
You might experience joint aches, pain, stiffness or even joint swelling. The symptoms of osteoarthritis most often develop gradually with time; although there is no cure, there are different treatments available to ease your pain and restore your mobility.
Osteoarthritis usually develops slowly and worsens over time, leading to symptoms such as:
Stiffness is commonly experienced first thing in the morning or after a long period of inactivity such as a car ride.
Joints may feel like they are grating or creaking as the bones rub against each other.
The exact cause is not known, but several things are thought to increase the risk factors:
Repetitive stress on a joint or an injury can damage a joint and increases the risk of OA in that joint.
Some people are born with abnormalities and develop malformed joints or defective cartilage.
Sometimes OA is a result of damage from a different kind of disease. Other factors such as the weather and diet may affect the symptoms of OA but aren’t a direct cause of it.
