CONDITIONS

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is sometimes called degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis. It can affect any joint in your body. It most often happens in the hands, hips, and knees. It causes the cushion layer between your bones (called the cartilage) to wear away. This happens slowly and usually gets worse over time.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis include

• Pain or aching in the joint.
• Stiffness in the joint, especially after not moving, such as after sleeping or sitting.
• Swelling and tenderness in the joint.
• A clicking noise when moving the joint.
• A decreased range of motion in the joint.

Causes

The exact cause of osteoarthritis isn’t known. It may be hereditary, which means it runs in families. People who play sports may get it because sports can be hard on joints. However, in most people, it seems to be related to the wear and tear put on joints over the years.

What happens when a joint is affected?

Normally, a smooth layer of cartilage acts as a pad between the bones of a joint. Cartilage helps the joint move easily and comfortably. In some people, the cartilage thins as the joints are used. This is the start of osteoarthritis. Over time, the cartilage wears away and the bones may rub against each other. The rubbing causes pain, swelling, and decreased motion of the joint.

Bones may even start to grow too thick on the ends where they meet to make a joint. Bits of cartilage may loosen and get in the way of movement. This also can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Who gets osteoarthritis?

There are some factors that can increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis, including:

• Being overweight or obese. Excess weight can make arthritis worse in the weight-bearing joints like knees, hips, and spine.
• Joint injury. Joints that have been injured, damaged, or had steroid injections are more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
• Osteoarthritis is more common in older people because they have been using their joints longer.
• Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis than men, especially after age 50.
• People who have jobs that require the same movement over and over (like painting or lifting) are at higher risk.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask you questions about your pain. He or she will probably ask you if your joint pain gets worse with activity and better with rest. Your doctor will examine you to see if you have trouble moving your joint. Your doctor may order an X-ray of the joint that is causing you problems to see what is causing the pain. Blood tests can help rule out other forms of arthritis.

Can osteoarthritis be prevented or avoided?

There’s not much you can do to avoid getting osteoarthritis as you age. The following may help:

• Try to not overuse any joints.
• Try to avoid jobs or activities that require repetitive movement.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Do strength-training exercises to keep the muscles around your joints strong. This is especially important for weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees, and ankles.