Osteoarthritis

What is osteoarthritis?

A joint is where two bones meet. The ends of the bones are covered with smooth cartilage that helps them glide. In OA, the cartilage and other parts of the joint break down or change shape¹. Small bone growths called bone spurs may form at the edges of the joint¹.

OA is often called “wear and tear” arthritis, but it is a disease of the whole joint, including cartilage, the joint lining, ligaments, and bone^1,3. Joint damage usually builds slowly over years, though it can move faster in some people¹.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis

Symptoms often start slowly, in one or a few joints¹. Common symptoms include:

• Pain when you use the joint, which may ease with rest¹
• Stiffness that usually lasts less than 30 minutes in the morning or after sitting¹
• Swelling around the joint after a lot of activity¹
• A grinding or cracking feeling or sound when you move^1,3
• Knobby bumps on the finger joints^1,3
• A knee that feels loose or gives way¹
• Less range of motion, making stairs, chairs, or gripping harder¹

OA most often affects the hands, knees, hips, neck, and lower back¹.

Causes and risk factors

Researchers don’t fully know what starts the breakdown in the joint¹. Things that raise the chance of OA include^1,4:

• Older age
• Being a woman, especially after age 50
• Extra body weight, which adds stress to the knees and hips
• A past joint injury or surgery
• Repeating the same joint movements over and over, such as at work or in sports
• Joints that formed differently
• A family history of OA

How osteoarthritis is diagnosed

There is no single test for OA². Other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout, can look like OA, so getting the right diagnosis matters³. A rheumatologist may:

• Ask about your symptoms, health history, and medicines²
• Examine your joints, how you move, and your reflexes²
• Order X-rays to look for narrowed joint space and bone spurs. Early OA may not show up on X-rays²
• Order an MRI in some cases, such as a knee that locks or gives way²
• Order blood tests or take fluid from a joint to rule out other causes, such as infection or gout²

Treatment options

Treatment aims to ease pain, help your joints work better, and slow the disease^2,3. Most plans start with steps you can take every day²:

• Exercise, including stretching, strength training, and low-impact activity like walking, cycling, swimming, or tai chi
• Weight management, which can ease pain in the knees and hips
• Physical or occupational therapy
• Braces or shoe inserts to support a joint

Medicines and procedures may include^2,3:

• Pain relievers by mouth, such as acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs)
• Creams or gels rubbed on sore joints
• Steroid shots, or hyaluronic acid shots in the knee
• Joint replacement surgery when other treatments don’t help enough⁴

Living with osteoarthritis and when to get care

Staying active is one of the most helpful things you can do. Exercise may ease pain and help you move better^3,4. Small changes, like a higher chair or a cane, can make daily tasks easier^3,4.

Talk with your clinician if joint pain lasts more than a few days or keeps coming back, if several joints hurt at once, or if a joint is swollen and you aren’t sure why⁵. A rheumatologist can check whether the cause is OA or an inflammatory type of arthritis that needs different treatment³.