Osteoarthritis, the most common type of
arthritis, is especially common in older people. The disease is thought to affect over 20 million people in the United States.
Osteoarthritis starts when cartilage begins to become ragged and wears away. Cartilage is the tissue that pads bones in a joint. At osteoarthritis's worst, all of the cartilage in a joint wears away, leaving bones that rub against each other.
You are most likely to have osteoarthritis in your hands, neck, lower back, or the large weight-bearing joints of your body, such as knees and hips.
Osteoarthritis is sometimes called degenerative joint disease or osteoarthrosis.
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that mostly affects the cartilage.
Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over one another. It also absorbs energy from the shock of physical movement.
In a person with osteoarthritis, the surface layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away. This allows bones under the cartilage to rub together, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint. Over time, the joint may lose its normal shape. Also, bone spurs -- small growths called osteophytes -- may grow on the edges of the joint. Bits of bone or cartilage can break off and float inside the joint space. This causes more pain and damage.
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