Introductory information about osteoarthritis (OA) will help you learn about the disease. This overview gives you the basic information about osteoarthritis you need.
When you are diagnosed with osteoarthritis, your doctor may launch into a discussion about cartilage damage or cartilage being worn away. What exactly is cartilage? What causes cartilage loss? Can cartilage be restored?
Cartilage loss is defined by a decrease in cartilage volume and thickness -- and an increase in bare bone area. Cartilage loss occurs after cartilage wears away or deteriorates.
When you were told you had osteoarthritis, did your doctor explain that there are other types of arthritis? Did you discuss the differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis -- or between osteoarthritis and other types of arthritis?
The importance of learning about and understanding osteoarthritis cannot be over-emphasized. There still are common misconceptions about osteoarthritis. Let's look at some of the misconceptions about osteoarthritis.
Joint injury, especially early in life, increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life. If joint injury can be prevented, the risk of osteoarthritis would decrease.
Obesity puts extra force on bones and joints. Consequently, obesity increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis and the need for joint replacement. Obesity also increases the complication rate in osteoarthritis patients who have joint replacement.
Arthritis is complicated. Many adults don't understand all aspects of arthritis -- so getting your children to understand fatigue and physical limitations will be a challenge. Keeping the explanation simple -- in terms they can relate to -- will help children understand arthritis.
Ethnicity impacts the prevalence of osteoarthritis. Studies have shown that certain ethnic groups are more likely to develop osteoarthritis than other groups. Being overweight, along with ethnicity, are significant factors.
With every diagnosis, there is a prognosis. The osteoarthritis prognosis is not necessarily what you would expect it to be. Osteoarthritis is not a rapidly progressive disease for everyone — and some patients actually stabilize.
Osteoarthritis, one of more than 100 types of arthritis and related diseases, is the most prevalent type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is most common among adults over 65 years old but people of any age can develop the disease. Learn more as osteoarthritis is explained with pictures.
Most people think osteoarthritis is an old person's disease. There is more to learn about osteoarthritis. Do you know the basic facts about osteoarthritis? Take the Osteoarthritis Quiz - True or False?
Joint pain is the primary symptom associated with osteoarthritis. Any joint can be affected by the disease. Learn more about how osteoarthritis leads to joint pain and affects the joints in other ways.
Aging is a known risk factor for developing osteoarthritis. The disease is often explained as the result of wear and tear on the joints, but there may be a more thorough explanation of what happens to cartilage during the aging process to cause osteoarthritis.
Cracking your knuckles is an annoying habit. But does cracking your knuckles really cause arthritis as some people think? A few studies have drawn conclusions about cracking your knuckles and whether it causes arthritis. Do you think it does?
Cartilage is the smooth covering over the ends of bones in a joint. Arthritis causes cartilage damage. Pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion result from damaged cartilage.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is recognized as the most crippling type of arthritis. What are the significant differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis, most common among people over 65 years old, can affect people of any age. Over 21 million adults in the United States have osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis risk factors point out why osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of arthritis. The prevalence of osteoarthritis correlates with older age. Learn about other osteoarthritis risk factors.
Osteoarthritis is also known as "wear-and-tear" arthritis. It is typically seen as a primary disease in older people but can occur as a secondary condition in younger people.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. There are 10 important facts you should know about osteoarthritis.
Points of interest and fast facts about the causes, diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and prevalence of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is one of more than 100 types of arthritis. How much do you know about osteoarthritis?
Two of the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are specific symptoms and distinguishing characteristics which determine the diagnosis and course of treatment. Do you know the difference?
Osteophytes are also commonly known as bone spurs. Osteophytes develop in deteriorating joints damaged by arthritis.
Patients are often confused by the diagnosis of "degenerative arthritis".
Are people who participate in regular athletic activities, but have not sustained any known injury, at risk for developing osteoarthritis? Can regular athletic activity result in arthritis years later?
Who gets osteoarthritis? What are the effects of osteoarthritis?
An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of osteoarthritis.
Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are two very different conditions with little in common, however, the similarity of their names causes confusion.
Paget’s disease of bone and osteoarthritis are completely different conditions that share some of the same symptoms. What are the differences and similarities between Paget’s disease of bone and osteoarthritis? How can Paget’s disease of bone cause osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative loss of cartilage in the joints. Learn more about the effects and causes of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis (OA) occurs when the cartilage within the joints breaks down and is lost. More than half of the 65 and older population suffer from osteoarthritis. Learn more about this disorder and how it's treated.
