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 degenerative 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

Research shows the effectiveness of a digital healthcare treatment for osteoarthritis

The steadily increasing prevalence and high costs of treating chronic joint pain worldwide poses a challenge for healthcare systems and healthcare payers.

24 Feb 2021

Study shows reliability and robustness of injectable anti-obesity medication

A second study of the injectable anti-obesity medication, semaglutide, has confirmed the large weight losses reported in a study earlier this month, establishing the reliability and robustness of this new drug.

24 Feb 2021

Kessler team receives funding to study factors leading to osteoarthritis after knee injury

Gerard Malanga, MD, and Nathan Hogaboom, PhD, of Kessler Foundation received a $185,707 award from The Geneva Foundation (Geneva) to study factors contributing to the development of osteoarthritis following acute knee injuries, a common disabling condition among active-duty military personnel.

22 Feb 2021

Study identifies immune profile of people with severe COVID-19

A team of researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center, USA, investigated how SARS-CoV-2 affects the immune system’s response during and after infection and contributes to the severity of COVID-19.

22 Feb 2021

New genetic analysis reveals biological causes of muscle weakness in older people

A new largescale genetic analysis has found biological mechanisms that contribute to making people more susceptible to muscle weakness in later life, finding that diseases such as osteoarthritis and diabetes may play a large role in susceptibility.

11 Feb 2021

Weight loss before surgery may not be beneficial for patients with knee osteoarthritis

A new University of Alberta study shows that losing weight before knee replacement surgery doesn't lead to better outcomes for patients.

28 Jan 2021

Genetically engineered cartilage delivers anti-inflammatory drug in response to knee activity

Working to develop new treatments for osteoarthritis, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have genetically engineered cartilage to deliver an anti-inflammatory drug in response to activity similar to the bending of a knee or other motions that put stress on joints.

27 Jan 2021

Study shows antidepressant drugs are largely ineffective for back and osteoarthritis pain

Antidepressant drugs are largely ineffective for back and osteoarthritis pain, despite being widely used for these conditions, suggests a review of the evidence published by The BMJ today.

20 Jan 2021

Antidepressants are not effective for treating back pain, osteoarthritis, shows study

Antidepressants are commonly used worldwide to treat pain, however new research from the University of Sydney shows they offer little to no help for people suffering chronic back pain and osteoarthritis and may even cause harm.

20 Jan 2021

Scientists discover new treatment target for osteoarthritis-like knee cartilage degeneration

There is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, but a group of scientists believe they've discovered a method through which a simple knee injection could potentially stop the disease's effects.

16 Jan 2021

Scientists identify animal model to study human musculoskeletal aging

There are many components to aging, both mental and physical. When it comes to the infrastructure of the human body - the musculoskeletal system that includes muscles, bones, tendons and cartilage - age-associated decline is inevitable, and the rate of that decline increases the older we get.

14 Jan 2021

Researchers find the "true" rate of dislocation following total hip replacement

The cumulative incidence of hip dislocation following total hip replacement is about 50 percent higher than suggested by simple analysis of hospital data, reports a study in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio in partnership with Wolters Kluwer.

21 Dec 2020

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