OA is the most common type of arthritis. It can cause you
stiffness, pain in some specific joints and reduced movement.
It usually affects joints in the knees and hips that support
your body weight and in the joints with the most movement. These
include the hips, knees, feet and hands and are known as
cartilaginous and synovial joints. It also occurs commonly in the
spine.
There's no known cure for OA, but symptoms can be
controlled.
OA treatment focuses on pain management, improving function and
slowing down wear and tear on the joints.
Cases of OA that begin without a known cause are called primary
OA. Secondary OA occurs after injury or overuse of a particular
joint.
OA can impair your ability to stand, walk, climb and do other
physical activities, especially if you feel it in the hips or
knees.
Most OA damage happens because cartilage deteriorates. With
less cartilage, more bone exposure and ragged surfaces, the joint
cavity becomes smaller and moving your affected joints becomes
painful or difficult. New bone development can happen, causing
"spurs," which again causes pain with movement of the joint.
OA is not the same as osteoporosis, another condition that is
common in elderly people. Osteoporosis is a reduction in bone mass
that makes bones more brittle and easily broken. OA does not affect
bone mass.
The course of OA varies depending on the person. You may
experience a slight ache in one joint that never gets any worse.
Other people may have morning stiffness or pain with
exercise.
There isn't a cure for OA, so treatment focuses on relieving
pain and stopping the disease from getting worse. Once OA is
diagnosed, symptoms may be treated with methods such as pain
relievers, rest and exercise, thermal treatments, massage, physical
therapy or occupational therapy. In some cases the doctor may
recommend injections of hyaluronic acid, using a synthetic version
of the fluid in the joint capsule, or a corticosteroid injection
into the joint.
Lifestyle changes such as weight loss and use of assistive
devices (such as jar openers, shower benches or canes) may help
people in certain situations.
Some people use nutritional supplements, such as glucosamine
and chondroitin, in an effort to relieve the pain from OA. However,
research on their effectiveness has produced mixed results, and
they are not inspected or regulated by the Food and Drug
Administration.
If a joint is seriously deteriorated, surgery to fuse bones
together or replace the affected joint may have to be
performed.
Diagnosis of OA typically begins with a physical examination
and a doctor's review of your medical history, with special focus
placed on any arthritic conditions that run in your family,
previous injuries or surgeries, and how you tend to use the
joints.
Laboratory tests cannot diagnose OA. However, various blood
tests may be used to rule out other kinds of arthritis or other
similar conditions.
Physical therapy or occupational therapy may help your OA by
improving your flexibility, strength, endurance, range of motion,
balance and function. Improvement in these areas may help reduce
the symptoms of OA and prevent further deterioration.
Physical therapists can also provide assistive devices to
stabilize the joint and make it easier to move. Examples include
braces, canes, walkers and electric power lifts.
Occupational therapists (OTs) offer instruction in joint
protection and energy conservation, make splints and give
recommendations on ways to execute daily tasks more easily, such as
dressing, bathing and household chores.
Factors that increase your risk for developing OA include
advanced age, excess weight, heredity, joint injury, sex (being
female) and certain medical conditions.
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