Osteoarthritis

According to the Arthritis Foundation, 66 million (nearly one in three adults) suffer from chronic joint pain and 21 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, which is characterized by a breakdown of the cartilage and a deterioration of the fluid in a joint. The symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, from moderate to severe, and stiffness. Most people who have osteoarthritis are older than age 45, and women are more commonly affected than men.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a generative joint disease that involves the degradation of joints, articular cartilage and subchondral bone, as a result of mechanical stress on the area.

Osteoarthritis Causes

Osteoarthritis Diagnosis

Osteoarthritis Treatments

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Osteoarthritis Types

Living with Osteoarthritis

Causes of Hand Pain

Osteoarthritis and Diet

Osteoarthritis Triggers

Turmeric for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis Complications

See more featured articles »

Should You Exercise With Osteoarthritis?

Easing Hand Pain in Osteoarthritis

Natural Ways to Ease Osteoarthritis Pain

Supplements for Osteoarthritis

Latest Osteoarthritis News and Research

Age is no barrier to losing weight, study shows

Obese patients over the age of 60 can lose an equivalent amount of weight as younger people using only lifestyle changes, according to a new study from the University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust that demonstrates that age is no barrier to losing weight.

20 Nov 2020

New procedure offers lasting pain relief for patients with osteoarthritis

A novel outpatient procedure offers lasting pain relief for patients suffering from moderate to severe arthritis in their hip and shoulder joints, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

16 Nov 2020

Study identifies potential treatment to postpone development of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), a widely acknowledged cause of disability that affects patients' quality of life and has significant economic impact through healthcare costs and loss of earnings.

12 Nov 2020

Effectiveness of vitamin C against COVID-19 depends on its natural transporter levels

High doses of vitamin C under study for treating COVID-19 may benefit some populations, but investigators exploring its potential in aging say key factors in effectiveness include levels of the natural transporter needed to get the vitamin inside cells.

11 Nov 2020

Novel super-activating macrophage receptor could explain hyper-inflammation in severe COVID-19

Immunity is a curious thing. While essential in protecting the body against invading pathogens and foreign antigens, it can also turn against the body and trigger destructive immunological processes. A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in November 2020 reports on the role played by hyperactive macrophages in a range of acute and chronic hyper-inflammatory conditions.

10 Nov 2020

Oral methotrexate can be an effective intervention for people with knee OA

A new study presented at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, shows that after three months of treatment with oral methotrexate, adults with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) with inflammation had significant improvements in physical function and inflammation, a sign that this inexpensive, generic pill may be an important intervention for knee OA.

6 Nov 2020

Anticoagulant drug linked to greater risk of knee and hip replacements in patients with osteoarthritis

New research presented at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, shows that use of warfarin, a vitamin K drug widely prescribed to prevent blood clots, is associated with a significantly greater risk of knee and hip replacements in patients with osteoarthritis.

6 Nov 2020

Corticosteroid injections for knee OA do not speed up the progression of disease

New research shows that corticosteroid injections for knee OA treatment do not hasten a patient's progression to a total knee replacement when compared with hyaluronic acid injections.

6 Nov 2020

Study explains the global burden of disability from musculoskeletal conditions

Musculoskeletal disorders--which affect muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and joints--can severely affect individuals' physical and mental health, and they're especially prevalent among aging adults.

5 Nov 2020

Some of the main osteoporosis treatments could have a protective effect against COVID-19

Some of the principal treatments for osteoporosis, denosumab, zoledronate and calcium, could have a protective effect against COVID-19 in patients who take them, specifically a 30 to 40% reduction in the rate of infection, according to the results of a joint study by Hospital del Mar, the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Pompeu Fabra University and the Pere Virgili Health Park.

3 Nov 2020

Researchers simplify and streamline guidelines for managing knee osteoarthritis

The burden of knee osteoarthritis is set to continue to increase around the world. Aging populations and rising levels of obesity, combined with an absence of a cure for the disease, will lead to an increased strain on health-care systems. Due to this, there is a focus on how to best manage the disease.

29 Oct 2020

Conflicting evidence on potential benefit, negative outcomes of hip and knee steroid injections

Osteoarthritis of the hip and knee is among the most common joint disorders. A frequently performed treatment for osteoarthritis and other joint related pain syndromes are IACS, yet there is conflicting evidence on their potential benefit and possible negative outcomes following such injections.

20 Oct 2020

Lubricant may actually be a precursor of joint disease, says study

An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can lead to severe osteoarthritis in both animal and human patients. Now, a new interdisciplinary study on the protein that lubricates our joints says that lubricant may actually be a precursor of joint disease.

14 Oct 2020

UniSA researchers are one step closer to finding new biomarker for osteoarthritis

University of South Australia researchers are a step closer to finding a new biomarker for osteoarthritis, a painful condition which affects more than two million Australians and costs the country an estimated $23 billion a year.

12 Oct 2020

New drug delivery systems can improve treatment for diseases that affect connective tissues

University of Delaware Professor Kristi Kiick is leading collaborative research to create new drug delivery systems with the potential to improve treatment for diseases that affect connective tissues, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease.

9 Oct 2020

Study finds 94% of dementia caregivers in Australia are sleep deprived

New Edith Cowan University research has found 94 per cent of Australians caring for a loved one with dementia are sleep deprived.

1 Oct 2020

Research shows the validity, reliability of isokinetic strength testing of older adults with COPD and stroke

The use of isokinetic dynamometers with older adults extends far beyond orthopedics, but the reliability and responsiveness of isokinetic measures in conditions like COPD and stroke are still being evaluated, report experts in Isokinetics and Exercise Science.

30 Sep 2020

Machine-learning algorithm can detect early, subtle signs of osteoarthritis

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering have created a machine-learning algorithm that can detect subtle signs of osteoarthritis- too abstract to register in the eye of a trained radiologist- on an MRI scan taken years before symptoms even begin.

21 Sep 2020

Smart drug delivery system may help treat spinal cord injuries, neurological disorders

A Rutgers-led team has created a smart drug delivery system that reduces inflammation in damaged nervous tissues and may help treat spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders.

17 Sep 2020

Study unravels why people with knee osteoarthritis experience varying pain patterns

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis worldwide, affecting more than 300 million people. It causes substantial pain, functional limitations, and disability in patients.

5 Sep 2020