Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis and affects 20 million people in the United States. It is a joint disease that breaks down cartilage, the smooth, cushioning material inside joints. As a result, movement of the joint becomes painful and difficult.
Osteoarthritis occurs most often in weight-bearing joints, such as the neck, lower back, knees and hips. It also affects the fingers. It is three times more common in women than men and begins to appear in middle age. By age 60, most people have some osteoarthritis, although it may be too mild to cause symptoms.
Preventive Measures
No one knows how to prevent the disease; however, there are ways to prevent the symptoms.
• Keep your joints in good working order. Stay fit with daily moderate exercise
• Protect your joints by doing warm-up exercises before activity
• Use a knee pad to protect your knees when you are kneeling
• Take the medication that is prescribed by your physician.
See your physician if you have any of these symptoms in or around a joint for more than two weeks:
• Mild to severe pain in a joint (especially after overuse or long periods of inactivity)
• Swelling, stiffness or limited movement of the joint (especially in the morning)
• Weakness in muscles around the sore joint from lack of use
• Deformity of the joint
source : Sisters of Mercy Health System
