Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis Overview Slideshow Pictures Simple Exercises to Relieve OA Pain Slideshow Ostearthritis: Exercises for OA of the Knee

Medical Author:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Medical Editor:

Catherine Burt Driver, MD

Catherine Burt Driver, MD

Catherine Burt Driver, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Driver is a member of the American College of Rheumatology. She currently is in active practice in the field of rheumatology in Mission Viejo, Calif., where she is a partner in Mission Internal Medical Group.

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• Osteoarthritis Overview
• Osteoarthritis Causes
• Osteoarthritis Symptoms and Signs
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Osteoarthritis Diagnosis
• Osteoarthritis Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Osteoarthritis Medications
• Surgery
• Follow-up
• Osteoarthritis Prevention
• Osteoarthritis Prognosis
• Osteoarthritis Pictures
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Read more on Osteoarthritis from Healthwise
• Viewer Comments: Osteoarthritis - Symptoms at Onset of Disease
• Viewer Comments: Osteoarthritis - Treatment

Osteoarthritis Overview

Osteoarthritis (OA) is not a single disease but rather the end result of a variety of disorders leading to the structural or functional failure of one or more of your joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of chronic joint pain, affecting over 25 million Americans. Osteoarthritis involves the entire joint, including the nearby muscles, underlying bone, ligaments, joint lining (synovium), and the joint cover (capsule).

• Osteoarthritis also involves progressive loss of cartilage. The cartilage tries to repair itself, the bone remodels, the underlying (subchondral) bone hardens, and bone cyst form. This process has several phases.
• The stationary phase of disease progression in osteoarthritis involves the formation of osteophytes and joint space narrowing.
• Osteoarthritis progresses further with obliteration of the joint space.
• The appearance of subchondral cysts (cysts in the bone underneath the cartilage) indicates the erosive phase of disease progression in osteoarthritis.
• The last phase in the disease progression involves bone repair and remodeling.
• Definitions
• Joint cartilage is a layer of tissue present at the joint surfaces that sustains joint loading and allows motion. It is gel-like, porous, and elastic. Normal cartilage provides a durable, low-friction, load-bearing surface for joints.
• Articular surface is the area of the joint where the ends of the bones meet, or articulate, and function like a ball bearing.
• Bone remodeling is a process in which damaged bone attempts to repair itself. The damage may occur from either an acute injury or as the result of chronic irritation such as that found in osteoarthritis.
• Collagen is the main supportive protein found in bone tendon, cartilage, skin, and connective tissue.
• Osteophytes are bony outgrowths or lumps, especially at the joint margins. They are thought to develop in order to offload the pressure on the joint by increasing the surface area on which your weight is distributed.
• Synovium is a membrane surrounding the joints that secretes a fluid that lubricates and provides nutrition to tissues.
• Subchondral bone is the part of bone under the cartilage.
• Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease.
Related to its affect on joints, osteoarthritis is sometimes referred to as osteoarthrosis.