Osteoarthritis
What
is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA), or degenerative joint disease, is the most common
form of arthritis. It most often affects middle-aged and older people,
involving the neck, lower back, knees, hips and fingers. Nearly 70 percent
of people over the age of 70 have x-ray evidence of the disease, but only
half of these people ever develop symptoms. It may also occur in joints
that have suffered previous injury, been subjected to prolonged heavy use,
or damaged by prior infection or inflammatory arthritis. Patients with OA
experience pain and loss of function.
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Known Causes
OA results from degeneration of
the joint cartilage. The causes of cartilage loss are multiple. Some kinds
of OA are known to be hereditary, including the common form that causes
enlargement of the knuckles. Current research focuses on this genetic
abnormality as well as new methods studying cells, chemistry and function
of cartilage. These efforts are creating rapid progress in our
understanding of OA. In most people, cartilage breakdown is due to both
mechanical ("wear and tear") effects and biochemical effects.
Health Impact
- OA affects more than 21 million
Americans.
- OA is the most common type of arthritis
and a leading cause of disability in the U.S.
- Virtually everyone over the age of 75 is
affected in at least one joint.
- Women are generally affected at a
younger age than men.
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Diagnosis
OA is suspected when pain develops in the commonly involved joints. It may
be confirmed by a physical examination, x-rays and by ruling out other
types of arthritis. Since it is so common, it may be present
simultaneously with other types of arthritis.
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Conventional
treatments
Therapy for OA includes both medication and other treatments that help to
relieve pain and improve joint function. Drug therapy should begin with
simple pain relievers (acetaminophen) and progress to nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs and/or intermittent corticosteroid injections.
Recently, several thick liquids that resemble normal joint fluid have been
approved for use by repeated injection in the knee joints. In addition,
there is some evidence suggesting that some dietary constituents may have
a beneficial effect.
Other therapies include patient education,
occupational and physical therapy to restore joint movement and increase
strength and aerobic capacity, reduction of weight on painful joints and
application of heat and cold to relieve pain. Joint surgery to repair or
replace seriously damaged joints may be required to end pain and restore
functional mobility.
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