Osteoarthritis
What is OSTEOARTHRITIS ?

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis affecting one out of eight people between the ages of 18 and 79 . As we grow older, parts of our body Wear out. This is true of cartilage, the shock absorber and sliding surface that covers the ends of bones. By the time you are 50 years old, there is a 90 percent chance that you will have some visible change in your cartilage contains fluid and elastic tissue, and reduces friction as the weight – bearing joints, such as the hips, knees and spine, are affected by osteoarthritis.

CAUSES OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis used to be seen only as an older person’s disease. Now because of the modern stresses in our lives, people of all ages suffer from the aches and pains associated with osteoarthritis. A specific joint injury or other joint disease like rheumatoid arthritis may cause osteoarthritis. Gout and congenital defects to the joint are secondary causes of osteoarthritis. Hypermobiles, or people that are extremely flexible, are also more prone to the disease. Some recent studies have pointed to genetics as a possible cause. It could be possible that some cartilage is more likely to degenerate than others.

SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness in the joint. Early on in the disease , pain may only be after exercise, but will go away after you rest. Over time, the occasional pain may become constant and wake you up at night. The cartilage may continue to wear away until bone is crunching on bone and a grating sound is heard.

In the long term, loss of mobility may occur. The joint may feel warm to the touch and may be swollen. This is called erosive inflammatory osteoarthritis. Deformity may result when one side of the joint collapses more than the other side. However, most people do not become crippled as a result of osteoarthritis.

TREATMENT FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS

At this time, there is no known cure for osteoarthritis. However, there are treatments that help decrease the arthritis pain you are feeling and help youregain mobility.(http:www.alaboutarthritis.comVT)