Information and statistics presented in this guidebook are compiled from the Centers for Disease Control and the Arthritis Foundation website.
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Osteoarthritis(OA)isthemostcommontypeof arthritis,affectingover32.5millionadultsintheU.S. Itisadegenerativediseasethatimpactsvarious partsofajointincludingbones,cartilage,and ligaments.
Althoughlinkedwithagingandreferredtoas a "wearandtear"condition,osteoarthritiscan affectanyoneandinvolvesmorethanjustthe agingprocess.
Whileitoftenappearsinthoseovertheageof 50,OAcandevelopinyoungerpeople,too, especiallythosewhohavehadapriorjoint injury,suchasatornACLormeniscus.
OAcancausecartilagebreakdown,bone changes,andinflammation,leadingtopain, stiffness,andreducedmobility.
age|higherriskasyouage,typicallyafter50
biology|thoseassignedfemaleatbirtharemore pronetodevelopingOA
environmentalfactors|occupation,activitylevels, andotherlifestylechoices
genetics|afamilyhistoryofOAincreasesyourrisk
jointinjury|injuriescanaccelerateOAdevelopment
musculoskeletalabnormalities|mis-alignmentof bonesandjointscanspeedupOA
obesity|extraweightincreasesjointstressand inflammation
overuse|repetitiveuseofjointsinjobsorsports
weakmuscles|inadequatemusclesupportcan leadtopoorjointalignment
neckandshoulders| stiffness,especiallyin themorning;grinding orcrunchingnoises
lowback| decreasedmotion, musclespasms, stiffness
hips|painmightbe feltinthegroinor buttocksand occasionallytheknee orthigh
knees|youmightfeel agratingsensation, stiffness,swelling,or instability
fingers|joints maygrowbony spurs,becoming swollenand tender
elbows|feelingof gratingorlocking, crackingofthejoint
feet|painoftenoccursinthebig toe,withpossibleswellinginankles ortoes
Diagnosisinvolvesreviewingyourmedical history,aphysicalexam,andpossibly imagingtestslikeX-raysorMRIs.Fluidmaybe drawnfromthejointtoruleoutother conditions.
Whilethere'snocure(yet)forOA,treatments canhelpmanagesymptoms.
Medications|painrelieverslikeacetaminophenand NSAIDslikeibuprofenhelpmanagepain.Other optionsincludecreams,gels,orinjectionslike corticosteroidsorplatelet-richplasma
Exercise|regularmovementhelpsmaintainjoint functionandreducepain
Weightloss|reducingweightcandecreasejoint stress
Physicalandoccupationaltherapy|thesecan providespecificexercisesandassistivedevicesto helpmanagesymptoms
Surgery|inseverecases,jointreplacementmight benecessarytoimprovefunctionandreducepain
The pain and decreased mobility from OA can lead to less physical activity, which increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and falls. People with OA have a higher chance of falling and fracturing bones.
Maintaininga healthy weight, managingblood sugarlevels, staying active,and protecting yourjoints canhelp manageOAandimprove youroverallwell-being.
Nocurrentmedicationcanhaltosteoarthritis,but manycanreducepain.
Acetaminophen(Tylenol)|ofteneffectiveformild tomoderatepain
Nonsteroidalanti-inflammatorydrugs(NSAIDs)| Drugslikeibuprofen(MotrinorAdvil)andnaproxen (Aleve)reducepainand,inhigherdoses, inflammation
Duloxetine(Cymbalta)|originallyan antidepressant,it'salsousedforchronicpain
Tramadol(Ultram)|aprescriptionpainrelieverfor severeOApain,butithasaddictionrisks
Fortargetedrelief,topical treatmentslikecreamsor patchescanbeapplied directlytothejoints. Ingredientslikecapsaicin, salicylates,andmentholcan helprelievepainthroughthe skin.
Fordeeperjointpain, corticosteroidorhyaluronic acidinjectionsmightbe recommended.
Heatandcoldtreatments|heatcanimprove bloodflowandrelaxstiffness,whilecoldcan reducepainandswelling
Relaxationtechniques|methodslikedeep breathingandguidedimagerycanrelaxyourbody andreducepain
Acupunctureandmassage|thesecanhelprelieve OApainandimprovejointfunction
Supportdevices|braces,splints,andspecial footwearcanreducejointstress
Ifyou'recarryingextraweight,losingsomecan greatlyeasethepressureonyourjoints every poundlostreducesfourpoundsofpressureon weight-bearingjoints.Studiesshowsignificant weightlosscanimprovepainlevelsandoverall qualityoflifeforthosewithOA.
Regularexerciseiscrucial.Itkeepsyoumoving, easespain,helpswithweightloss,andlowersthe riskofotherhealthissues.Considergentleactivities likewalking,cycling,swimming,yoga,andwater aerobics.
Ifjointpainlimitsyourmovement,aphysical therapistcantailoranexerciseplanthatsuitsyour needs.
Quitsmoking|smokingcanworsenjointpainand interferewithsurgeryrecovery
Useassistivedevices|toolsthathelpwithdaily taskscanmakelifeeasier
Emotionalsupport|managingpainandmobility issuescanbetough,soconsiderseekingsupportfor emotionalwell-being
Discussyourneeds|whetherathomeorwork, communicateyourlimitationsandneedstothose aroundyou
Dietandsupplements|eatingwellandconsidering supplementslikeglucosaminemighthelp,though theireffectivenessvaries
Ifothertreatmentsdon’tproviderelief,surgerylike jointreplacementmightbeconsideredtoalleviate painandrestorefunction. Workwithyourdoctor tofindthebest combinationof treatmentsforyour specificsituation.
Having osteoarthritis(OA) mightraiseyour chancesofgetting heartdisease. Here’swhatyou needtoknowand howyoucanlook afteryourheart.
Eventhoughosteoarthritisismostlyknownfor causingjointdamage,pain,andswelling,it canalsoaffectotherpartsofyourbody, includingyourheart.Researchindicatesthat peoplewithOAarenearlythreetimesmore likelytosufferfromheartdiseaseorheart failurecomparedtothosewithoutOA.This riskisparticularlyhighifthearthritisaffects thekneesorhips.
Whileosteoarthritisisn’ttypicallyseenasan inflammatorydisease,newerstudiessuggest itdoesinvolvesomeinflammation,whichcan contributetoheartdisease.
Agingplaysaroleinbothconditions,leading toharderandstifferarteriesthatcancause highbloodpressureandheartdamage,and tojointswearingoutovertime.
StudieshavefoundthatOApatientswhodon’t exercisearemorelikelytodevelopheartdisease anddiefromit.Ifjointpainisstoppingyoufrom beingactive,considerjointreplacementsurgeryto helpregainyourmobilityandreduceyourriskof heartdisease. Beingoverweightcanalsoincreaseyourriskofboth OAandheartdisease.Extraweightstrainsyour jointsandheart,potentiallyleadingtodamage.Fat cellscanalsoproducechemicalsthatinflameyour joints,heart,andbloodvessels.
Metabolicsyndrome—amixofconditionslikehigh bloodpressure,highbloodsugar,excessbellyfat, andabnormalcholesterollevels iscommonin peoplewithOA,withabout60%ofOApatients havingtheseissuescomparedto23%ofthegeneral population.Thissyndromecanincreaseyourheart diseaseriskandpotentiallyworsenjointdamage.
Talktoyourdoctoraboutyouridealweightandtry toachieveitthroughdietandexercise.
Engageinlow-impactexercisessuchasswimming, bicycling,orwalking,whichareeasieronyourjoints.
Regularlycheckyourbloodsugar,bloodpressure, andcholesterolwithyourdoctor.Manageanyoutof-rangelevelsthroughdiet,exercise,andpossibly medications.
UsethelowestpossibledoseofNSAIDslike ibuprofenornaproxenfortheshortesttimeneeded tomanageyourpain,andconsidernon-drugpain reliefmethodslikeice,heat,andmassage.
Ifpainiskeepingyoufromexercising,discusswith yourdoctorwhetherjointreplacementsurgery mightbeanoptionforyou.Weighthepotential benefitsandrisksbeforedeciding. Although you can’t reverse aging, you can manage other risk factors
Analgesics|medicationsthat relievepainwithoutcausinglossof consciousness
Arthritis*|aconditionthatcauses pain,swelling,andstiffnessinyour joints,makingithardtomoveand doeverydayactivities.Thereare morethan100typesofarthritis
Arthroplasty|surgicalrebuilding orreplacementofajoint
AArticularCartilage|the smooth,whitetissuethat coverstheendsofbones wheretheycometogetherto formjoints,allowingbonesto glideovereachotherwith minimalfriction
*manyofthedifferenttypesofarthritisarelistedattheendofthisglossary
BoneSpurs|bonyprojectionsalsoknownas osteophytesthatdevelopalongtheedgesofbones injointsaffectedbyosteoarthritis
Bursa|asacfilledwithlubricating fluid,locatedbetweentissues such asbone,muscle,tendonsandskin todecreaserubbing,frictionand irritation
CCartilage|afirm,rubbery materialthatcoversthe endsofbonesinnormal jointsandservesasa cushionbetweenbones, allowingsmoothjoint movement
Corticosteroids|drugs thatworktodecrease inflammationandpain. Oftencalled"steroids," drugsinthiscategoryare prednisoneor prednisolone
Cortisone|apotentantiinflammatorycorticosteroid thatmaybegivenasan injection(shot)todecrease swellingandrelievepain
Degenerative|thegradual deteriorationoftissueororgansover time,oftenassociatedwithaging
GlucosamineandChondroitin| nutritionalsupplementsoften takentogethertohelpmanagethe symptomsofosteoarthritis
Hydrotherapy|aprogramof exercisesperformedinalarge pool.Hydrotherapymaybe easieronpainfuljointsbecause thewatertakessomeofthe weightoffthepainfulareas whileenablingresistance training.Hydrotherapyalsois calledaquatherapyorwater therapy
Immunesystem|thebody’s specificdefensesystemagainst diseases
Inflammation|aprocessby whichthebody'swhiteblood cellsandchemicalsprotectthe bodyagainstinfectionand foreignsubstancessuchas bacteriaandviruses
Partsofthebodycanbecome red,swollen,hot,andpainful.It canhappenwhenyou'reinjured orhaveaninfection.
Inflammationcanhappenon theinsideofyourbodywhere youcannotseeit.
Joint|theareawheretwoormore bonesmeet,allowingmovementof theskeleton
JointDeformity|abnormal positioningorshapeofajoint,often causedbydamagefrom osteoarthritis
JointFusion|asurgicalprocedure thatfusesthebonesinajoint, typicallytorelievepainandimprove stability
JointReplacementSurgery|asurgical procedureinwhichnaturaljointsare replacedwithsyntheticonestorestore functionintheaffectedarea
MMeniscus|Themeniscusisaspecifictypeofcartilage foundintheknee.ItisC-shapedandactslikeacushion betweenthethighboneandshinbone,helpingto stabilizethekneeandabsorbshockduringmovement. Themeniscusismadeofcartilage,butnotallcartilage isameniscus
nNon-weight-bearingjoint|ajoint thatdoesnotbeartheweightof thebody,suchastheshoulderor elbow
NSAIDs(NonsteroidalAntiInflammatoryDrugs)|aclassof medicationsthatreducepain, inflammation,andfeversuchas AdvilorMotrinorIbuprofen
Osteoarthritis(OA)|acondition wherethecartilageandboneina jointweardownovertime.Thiscan causepain,stiffness,anddifficulty movingthejoint
oPhysicalTherapy|aprogramof exerciseandothertreatmentsto helpkeepyourmusclesstrong andyourjointsfrombecoming stiff.Aphysicaltherapistcan showyouhowtousespecial equipmenttohelpyoumove betterandhowtousedevices suchascrutches,walkersand canes
rRangeofMotion|theextentof movementajointcanachieve,usually measuredindegrees
Rehabilitation|theprocessofhelpingsomeone recoverfromaninjury,illness,orsurgery.Itoften involvesexercises,therapy,andother treatmentstoimprovestrength,mobility,and function.Rehabilitationdoesnotusuallyinvolve beinghospitalized
SStiffness|areducedabilitytomove ajointfreely,oftenaccompaniedby painordiscomfort
Synovialjoint|atypeofjointinyour bodythatallowsmovement,likein yourknees,elbows,andshoulders. Thesejointsaresurroundedbya capsuleandcontainsynovialfluid, whichhelpslubricateandcushion thejointforsmoothmovement
Weight-BearingJoint|ajointthatsupportstheweight ofthebody,suchasthehip,knee,orspine
Achillestendinitis
Achondroplasia
Acromegalicarthropathy
Adhesivecapsulitis
Adult-onsetstill’sdisease
Ankylosingspondylitis
Anserinebursitis
Avascularnecrosis
Behcet’ssyndrome
Seronegativearthritis
Blount’sdisease
Brucellarspondylitis
Bursitis
Caplan’ssyndrome
Carpaltunnelsyndrome
Chondrocalcinosis
Chondromalaciapatellae
Chronicsynovitis
Churg-Strausssyndrome
Viralarthritis
Cogan’ssyndrome
Crestsyndrome
Cryoglobulinemia
Diabeticfingersclerosis
Arthritis
Diffuseidiopathicskeletalhyperostosis(DISH)
Discitis
Discoidlupuserythematosus
Drug-inducedlupus
Duchenne’smusculardystrophy
Dupuytren’scontracture
Ehlers-Danlossyndrome
Enteropathicarthritis
Epicondylitis
Erosiveinflammatory
Exercise-inducedcompartmentsyndrome
Felty’ssyndrome
Femoralepiphysis
Fibromyalgia
Fifth’sdisease
Flatfeet
Foreignbodysynovitis
Freibert’sdisease
Fungalarthritis
Gaucher’sdisease
Gout
Granulomatousarteritis
Hemarthrosis
Hemochromatosis
Hipdysplasia
Henoch-Schoenleinpurpura
Arthritisis amongthe leadingcauses ofdisabilityin adultsintheUS
Hurlersyndrome
Immunecomplexdisease
Juvenileidiopathicarthritis
Kawasakidisease
Legg-calve-perthesdisease
Lymedisease
Marfan’ssyndrome
Mucopolysaccharidosis
Myofascialpainsyndrome
Neonatallupus
Ochronosis
Osgood-shlatter’sdisease
Osteoarthritis
Osteomalacia
Osteonecrosis
Osteoporosis
Overlapsyndrome
Pachydermoperiosteosis
Plantarfasciitis
Polymyalgiarheumatica
Poplitealcysts
Pott’sdisease
Prostheticjointinfection
Reiter’ssyndrome
Retrocalcanealbursitis
Osteoarthritis (OA)canaffect peopleofany age.About7%of peopleaged18to 44haveOA
Reynaud’sphenomenon
Rheumaticfever
Rheumatoidarthritis
Rheumatoidvasculitis
Sarcoidosis
Saturninegout
Scleroderma
Septicarthritis
Shigellaarthritis
Sicklecellarthropathy
Sjogren’ssyndrome
Spinalstenosis
Spondylolysis
Staphylococcusarthritis
Sticklersyndrome
Subacutecutaneouslupus
Sweet’ssyndrome
Tarsaltunnelsyndrome
Tenniselbow
Tuberculosisarthritis
Urticarialvasculitis
Viralarthritis
Wegner’sgranulomatosis
Whipple’sdisease
Wilson’sdisease
Osteoarthritis affectswomen andpeopleof colormorethan others.