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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Patient Handouts

Summary

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It causes pain, swelling, and reduced motion in your joints. It can occur in any joint, but usually it affects your hands, knees, hips or spine.

Osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage in your joints. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage absorbs the shock of movement. When you lose cartilage, your bones rub together. Over time, this rubbing can permanently damage the joint.

Risk factors for osteoarthritis include

• Being overweight
• Getting older
• Injuring a joint

There is no specific test for osteoarthritis. Most doctors use several methods, including medical history, a physical exam, x-rays, or lab tests.

Treatments include exercise, medicines, and sometimes surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Start Here

• Osteoarthritis (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Osteoarthritis (National Institute on Aging)
• Osteoarthritis (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bone X-Ray (Radiography) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• MRI of the Musculoskeletal System (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Synovial Fluid Analysis (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• 6 Things You Should Know about Dietary Supplements for Osteoarthritis (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
• Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
• Hip Replacement: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Knee Replacement: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Shoulder Joint Replacement (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Tibial osteotomy - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Living With

• Living with Arthritis (American Occupational Therapy Association) - PDF

Related Issues

• Bone Spurs (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Paget's Disease of Bone and Osteoarthritis: Different Yet Related (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Specifics

• Arthritis of the Thumb (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Arthritis of the Wrist (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
• Degenerative Changes in the Spine: Is This Arthritis? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Osteoarthritis of the Foot and Ankle (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish
• Osteoarthritis of the Hand (American Society for Surgery of the Hand) Also in Spanish
• Thumb Arthritis (American Society for Surgery of the Hand) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Osteoarthritis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Videos and Tutorials

• Osteoarthritis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Arthritis by the Numbers: Book of Trusted Facts and Figures (Arthritis Foundation) - PDF
• FastStats: Arthritis (National Center for Health Statistics)
• Long-Term Benefit of Steroid Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis Challenged (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Osteoarthritis (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Effects of Ischemic Compression on Trigger Points in the First Dorsal...
• Article: Clinical effectiveness of arthroscopic vs open ankle arthrodesis for advanced ankle...
• Article: The effect of thermal mineral waters on pain relief, physical function...
• Osteoarthritis -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Arthritis Glossary (Boston University)

Find an Expert

• Arthritis Foundation: Local Office Directory (Arthritis Foundation)
• Find a Rheumatologist (American College of Rheumatology)
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Osteoarthritis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish