Osteoarthritis

Applies to: Neck, Shoulder, Elbow/Hand/Wrist, Back, Hip, Knee, Foot/Ankle

OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis (OA) also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease is a group of mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of joints.

Symptoms may include:

  • joint pain
  • tenderness around joints
  • joint stiffness
  • locking of joints
  • joint effusion

There are a variety of causes for osteoarthritis including:

  • hereditary factors
  • developmental factors
  • metabolic factors
  • mechanical deficit

All of these may lead to loss of cartilage. When bone surfaces become less protected by cartilage, bone may be exposed and damaged in the normal everyday movements we make, leading us to feel pain. This resulting pain may inhibit people from moving as they would normally leading to the secondary symptoms of osteoarthritis which include atrophying of muscles and ligaments becoming more lax.