Joints
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the progressive loss of the cartilage that lines a joint, together with changes in the underlying bone, the joint lining and the surrounding soft tissues. It is a disease of the whole joint rather than simple mechanical wear, and it most commonly affects the knees, hips, hands and spine. Symptoms and the appearance on X-ray correlate poorly: substantial radiographic change can cause little trouble, and significant pain can occur with modest findings.
Symptoms
The pattern differs from inflammatory arthritis in ways that are usually apparent from the history alone.
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Pain with use
Typically worse with activity and toward the end of the day, and eased by rest — though pain at rest and at night occurs in more advanced disease.
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Short-lived morning stiffness
Usually easing within about half an hour of getting up. Prolonged morning stiffness points instead toward an inflammatory arthritis.
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Reduced range and crepitus
Gradual loss of movement, a grating sensation with motion, and in some joints visible enlargement.
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Episodic flares
Periods of increased pain and swelling lasting days to weeks, often without an obvious trigger.
Causes and risk factors
Several factors combine, and some of them are modifiable — which is where treatment has the most leverage.
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Age and genetics
Prevalence rises with age, and there is a clear familial component, particularly for hand and knee disease.
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Body weight
A major modifiable factor for the knee and hip, through both mechanical load and metabolic effects.
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Previous joint injury
Fracture involving a joint surface, meniscal injury or ligament rupture substantially increase later risk in that joint.
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Joint shape and alignment
Developmental variation in hip shape and alignment differences at the knee alter how load is distributed across the surface.
Common questions
Will exercise damage the joint further?
Appropriate exercise does not accelerate osteoarthritis and is one of the better-supported treatments for it. Activity is typically adjusted in type and volume rather than avoided.
My X-ray looks bad — does that predict how I will do?
Poorly, in either direction. Radiographic severity and symptoms correlate weakly, which is why treatment decisions are based primarily on pain and function.
Do supplements help?
Evidence for glucosamine and chondroitin is mixed and generally weak. They are not recommended in most current guidelines, though they are widely used and generally regarded as low-risk.
Is it the same as rheumatoid arthritis?
No. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease with a different pattern, prolonged morning stiffness and different treatment. The distinction is made clinically and with blood tests where needed.
General reference information, and not advice about your own case. It may not reflect the most recent guidance or what is offered on a given day — call (201) 408-5151 to check.
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Dr. Yoo Rehab Clinic welcomes new patients from across Northern New Jersey and New York City, including Englewood, Teaneck, Fort Lee, Palisades Park and Ridgefield. Call today to learn more about insurance, scheduling, and how we can help.
