What causes osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis research scientists do not know the exact cause or causes of osteoarthritis. Growing older is what most often puts you at risk of developing osteoarthritis. Other than that, scientists think the cause depends on which part of the body is involved. For example, osteoarthritis in the hands or hips may run in families.
Knee osteoarthritis can be linked with being overweight. Injuries or overuse may cause osteoarthritis in joints such as the knees, hips, or hands.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis symptoms can range from stiffness and mild pain that comes and goes with activities like walking, bending, or stooping -- to severe joint pain that keeps on even when you rest or try to sleep. Sometimes osteoarthritis causes your joints to feel stiff when you haven't moved them in a while, such as after riding in the car. But the stiffness goes away when you move the joint. Over time, osteoarthritis can also cause problems moving joints -- and sometimes disability -- if your back, knees, or hips are affected.
Unlike some other forms of
arthritis, osteoarthritis affects only joints and not internal organs. One example of a type of arthritis that affects other parts of the body besides the joints is
rheumatoid arthritis (which is the second-most-common form of arthritis). Rheumatoid arthritis -- which begins at a younger age than osteoarthritis does -- causes swelling and redness in joints, and may also make people feel sick, tired, and feverish (though this is rare).
(Click Osteoarthritis Symptoms for more information on possible symptoms of osteoarthritis, as well as some specific symptoms of osteoarthritis by location.)
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