Osteoarthritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 3 Aug 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Learn how osteoarthritis breaks down joint cartilage and bone, the leading cause of chronic disability in the U.S., plus its symptoms and treatment options.
At a Glance
- 1 - A moving joint may make a crackling sound called crepitus.
- 2 - Regular exercise stimulates synovial fluid, which lubricates the joints and may help prevent further damage.
- 3 - Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis affects 10 percent of men and 13 percent of women aged 60 or older.
- 4 - Severely damaged joints may call for surgery, such as an osteotomy to reposition bone or a total hip replacement known as arthroplasty.
Topic Definition
- Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis and the leading cause of chronic disability in the United States. Rather than an autoimmune condition, it is a chronic degenerative disorder in which the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones gradually breaks down, so that over time the bone beneath can become exposed and damaged. As the cartilage flakes and thins, people often feel pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the affected joints, and the surrounding muscles may weaken while nearby ligaments loosen. It commonly settles in weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees, and lower back, though it can also reach the neck, fingers, thumb, ankle, and big toe. The condition is related to aging but not caused by it, since some people reach their nineties with no signs of it, and while there is no cure, its symptoms can be managed through exercise, weight control, rest, medication, and, when needed, surgery.
Overview
Osteoarthritis also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is a group of mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Symptoms may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, locking, and occasionally an effusion. A variety of causes, hereditary, developmental, metabolic, and mechanical, may initiate processes leading to loss of cartilage. When bone surfaces become less well protected by cartilage, bone may be exposed and damaged. As a result of decreased movement secondary to pain, regional muscles may atrophy, and ligaments may become more lax.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, and the leading cause of chronic disability in the United States, affects nearly 27 million people. Osteoarthritis is not considered to be an autoimmune disease but a chronic degenerative disorder related to but not caused by aging, as there are people well into their nineties who have no clinical or functional signs of the disease.
- Primary osteoarthritis is mostly related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases, and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses.
- Secondary osteoarthritis is caused by another disease or condition. Conditions that can lead to secondary osteoarthritis include obesity, repeated trauma or surgery to the joint structures, abnormal joints at birth (congenital abnormalities), gout, diabetes, and other hormone disorders.
Symptoms
Osteoarthritis has no cure, but you can treat its symptoms. The main symptom is acute pain, causing loss of ability and often stiffness. "Pain" is generally described as a sharp ache, or a burning sensation in the associate muscles and tendons. OA can cause a crackling noise (called "crepitus") when the affected joint is moved or touched, and patients may experience muscle spasm and contractions in the tendons. Occasionally, the joints may also be filled with fluid. Humid and cold weather increases the pain in many patients.
Acetaminophen is frequently recommended because it relieves pain with the fewest side of effects. Over-the-counter NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen reduce inflammation as well as pain and may be helpful. However, these drugs can irritate the stomach. To prevent irritation, try coated aspirin or take medication with meals.
If the pain is severe such as suffering chronic knee pain, your doctor may prescribe stronger NSAIDs and, rarely, corticosteroid injections, shot directly into your joints. Topical therapy, with creams that contain aspirin compounds, may also relieve pain. Along with drug therapy, exercise, and physical therapy, alternative arthritis treatments may also bring relief.
Common Osteoarthritis symptoms include:
- Stiffness after resting that goes away after movement.
- Pain that is worse after activity or toward the end of the day.
- Sore or stiff joints, particularly the hips, knees, and lower back, after inactivity or overuse.
Osteoarthritis can also affect the neck, small finger joints, the base of the thumb, ankle, and big toe.
The pain may be moderate and come and go, without affecting the ability to perform daily tasks. Some people's OA will never progress past this early stage. Others will have their OA get worse. The pain and stiffness of more severe osteoarthritis may make it difficult to walk, climb stairs, sleep, or perform other daily tasks.
Exercise is one of the most important treatments for people with osteoarthritis, whatever your age or level of fitness. Your physical activity should include a combination of exercises to strengthen your muscles and exercises to improve your general fitness.
Self-treatment for Osteoarthritis
Self-care is also a valuable tool in treating arthritis. Learning to pace yourself during the day and getting enough rest at night are two of the most significant ways to help yourself if you have osteoarthritis. Rather than think about what you can no longer do, focus on what you can do instead.
Regular exercise increases joint protection by stimulating the production of synovial fluid, which coats the ends of the joints. Like oil, this thick substance lubricates your joints and may help prevent further damage.
Gently moving the joints and stretching the muscles and tendons are the best ways to relieve strain on painful joints, improve body alignment, and help you feel more relaxed and controlling your disease. You should do a few simple, carefully controlled mobility and stretching movements once or twice daily, even when your joints are swollen and painful.
Rest is also important because it can lessen inflammation. The key is balance. Adjust the amount of rest and exercise according to the stage of your disease and how you feel each day. Too much inactivity makes the conditions worse, but too much exercise puts you at risk for exhaustion, injury, and more pain.
Therapies that manage osteoarthritis pain and improve function include exercise, weight control, rest, pain relief, alternative therapies and surgery.
Exercise as much as you can to increase movement and strength, improve the functioning of the joints, and create better all-round physical well-being. Learn to listen to your body and know when it is telling you to take things easy.
Surgery for Osteoarthritis
Your doctor may recommend surgery if your joints are severely damaged. One procedure, called osteotomy, corrects bone deformity by cutting the bone and repositioning it. Osteotomy is usually done on the knee.
Osteoarthritis of the Hip
As in other joints that carry your body's weight, such as the knees, the hips are at risk for osteoarthritis. If you have later stages of osteoarthritis and your hip joint hurts in bed at night, your doctor may recommend a total hip replacement surgery called arthroplasty.
Total joint arthroplasty involves resurfacing, or refining, the ends of the bones, so they can move more freely against each other. This term is also used for total joint replacement in which the joint is removed and a metal, ceramic, or plastic device is inserted in its place.
Osteoarthritis Facts and Statistics
OA is the most common form of arthritis, and the leading cause of chronic disability in the United States. About 27 million people in America have osteoarthritis. Common risk factors include increasing age, obesity, previous joint injury, overuse of the joint, weak thigh muscles, and genetics.
- Symptomatic knee OA occurs in 10% of men and 13% in women aged 60 years or older.
- Osteoarthritis affects about 1.9 million people in Australia, and 8 million people in the United Kingdom.
- Overall, in the United States, OA affects 13.9% of adults aged 25 years and older and 33.6% (12.4 million) of those 65+ in 2005; an estimated 26.9 million US adults in 2005 up from 21 million in 1990 (believed to be conservative estimate).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition where joint cartilage wears down over time, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the joint lining.
Can osteoarthritis be reversed
Osteoarthritis cannot be reversed and has no cure, but its symptoms can be managed effectively through exercise, weight control, medication, and other therapies to slow decline and ease pain.
What foods help with osteoarthritis
No food cures osteoarthritis, but a balanced diet that supports a healthy weight can reduce stress on the joints, and it is best to discuss individual nutrition choices with a doctor.
Is osteoarthritis a disability
Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of chronic disability in the United States, and in more severe stages it can make walking, climbing stairs, and daily tasks difficult.
Does cold weather make osteoarthritis worse
Many people report that humid and cold weather increases their joint pain, though weather does not cause the condition itself and affects individuals differently.
At what age does osteoarthritis usually start
Osteoarthritis becomes more common with increasing age and often appears after middle age, yet it is related to aging rather than caused by it, since some people never develop it.
What kind of doctor treats osteoarthritis
A rheumatologist specializes in arthritis and joint conditions, while primary care physicians and orthopedic surgeons may also help with diagnosis, treatment, and any needed surgery.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.
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