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Osteoarthritis
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/osteoarthritis.html

Osteoarthritis

Also called: Degenerative joint disease, OA, Osteoarthrosis
On this page

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
  • Test Your Knowledge

Research

  • Statistics and Research
  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Find an Expert

For You

  • Patient Handouts

Summary

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis, sometimes called OA, is a type of arthritis that only affects the joints, usually in the hands, knees, hips, neck, and lower back. It's the most common type of arthritis.

In a healthy joint, the ends of the bones are covered with a smooth, slippery tissue called cartilage. The cartilage pads the bones and helps them glide easily when you move the joint. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage breaks down and becomes rough. Sometimes, all the cartilage wears away and the bones rub together. Bumps of extra bone called bone spurs may grow in the joint area.

There is no cure for osteoarthritis. It usually gets worse slowly. But there's a lot you can do to manage the symptoms.

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis affects people in different ways, and not everyone has pain. The most common symptoms are:

  • Pain when you move, which often gets better with rest
  • Stiffness, especially for the first 30 minutes after you get up from resting
  • Swollen joints, especially after using the joint a lot
  • Less movement in the joint than normal
  • A joint that feels loose or unstable

What causes osteoarthritis?

Researchers aren't sure what causes osteoarthritis. They think that it could be caused by a combination of factors in the body and the environment. Your chance of developing osteoarthritis increases with age. They also know that some people are more likely to develop it than others.

Who is more likely to develop osteoarthritis?

Things that make you more likely to develop osteoarthritis include:

  • Aging. Osteoarthritis can happen at any age, but the chance of getting it increases in middle-aged adults and older. After age 50, it is more common in women than in men.
  • Being overweight. Extra weight puts more stress on your joints.
  • Having a past injury or surgery on a joint. This is often the cause of osteoarthritis in younger adults.
  • Doing a lot of activities that overuse the joint. This includes sports with a lot of jumping, twisting, running, or throwing.
  • Having a joint that doesn't line up correctly.
  • A family history of osteoarthritis. Some people inherit genetic changes that increase their chance of developing osteoarthritis.

How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

There is no specific test for osteoarthritis. To find out if you have osteoarthritis, your provider:

  • Will ask about your symptoms and medical history
  • Will do a physical exam
  • May use x-rays or other imaging tests to look at your joints
  • May order lab tests to make sure that a different problem isn't causing your symptoms

What are the treatments for osteoarthritis?

The goal of treating osteoarthritis is to ease your pain, help you move better, and stop it from getting worse.

Treatment usually begins with:

  • Exercises to improve strength, flexibility and balance
  • Weight loss, if needed, to improve pain, especially in your hips or knees
  • Braces or shoe inserts (orthotics) that a health care provider fits for you

You can buy some pain relievers and arthritis creams without a prescription. They can be helpful, but it's best to talk to your provider about using them. If they don't help enough, your provider may prescribe injections (shots) into the joint or prescription pain relievers.

Complementary therapies may help some people. Massage can increase blood flow and bring warmth to the area. Some research shows that acupuncture may help relieve osteoarthritis pain. Simple things like heat and ice can help, too.

If none of these treatments help enough, surgery may be an option. You and your provider can decide if it's right for you.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Start Here

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

Diagnosis and Tests

  • Bone X-Ray Video (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Musculoskeletal MRI (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • Synovial Fluid Analysis From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

  • 7 Things to Know about Complementary Health Approaches for Osteoarthritis From the National Institutes of Health
  • Chronic Pain and Complementary Health Approaches From the National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
  • Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis: What You Need To Know From the National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
  • Hip Replacement: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Knee Replacement: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Osteoarthritis: In Depth From the National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
  • Shoulder Joint Replacement (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
  • Tai Chi: What You Need to Know From the National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)

Living With

  • About Physical Activity and Arthritis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Related Issues

  • Bone Spurs (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

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

Genetics

  • Osteoarthritis: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)

Videos and Tutorials

  • Osteoarthritis Video (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Test Your Knowledge

  • Osteoarthritis Treatment Quiz (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)

Clinical Trials

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

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

  • Article: On-chip 3D potency assay for prediction of clinical outcomes for cell...
  • Article: Dual intra-articular injections of corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid versus single corticosteroid...
  • Article: TMJ pericapsular guided injection with visual-inertial odometry (Augmented/mixed reality): A novel...
  • Osteoarthritis -- see more articles

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 From the National Institutes of Health Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • Osteoarthritis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Osteoarthritis

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Bone x-ray
  • Cervical spondylosis
  • Lumbosacral spine CT
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Synovial fluid analysis
  • Tibial osteotomy - series

Related Health Topics

  • Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Osteoarthritis is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Osteoarthritis

Disclaimers

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The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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