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United States
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- Managing Knee Pain
- About knee osteoarthritis
- About SUPARTZ® Joint Fluid Therapy
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About knee osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, or OA, is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 27 million Americans.1 Osteoarthritis refers to the breakdown, or degeneration, of cartilage and fluid that cushions and lubricates the bones in your joints. The degeneration allows your bones to rub together, resulting in pain and further wear and tear. Osteoarthritis is a chronic progressive condition that gets worse over time.
The most common signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis are:
- Joint soreness after overuse or inactivity
- Joint stiffness after periods of rest or in the morning
- Pain when moving the knee
- Pain when walking up and down stairs or getting up from a chair
- Pain that prevents you from exercising your leg
- Grating or catching when moving the knee
- Joint pain that worsens in the evening after a day’s activity
- Deterioration of coordination due to pain and stiffness
- Weakened thigh muscles
As a degenerative condition, osteoarthritis generally develops slowly over time. Osteoarthritis is usually first noticed in middle-aged and older adults; however, it can occur at any age following an injury to the joint or other disorder. There isn’t a single cause of osteoarthritis, but there are many risk factors that should be considered.
Risk factors include:
- Age—The chance of developing osteoarthritis increases as you age, but it is not inevitable
- Obesity— Increased body weight is a serious factor in the development of osteoarthritis. For every extra pound you gain, you put three additional pounds of stress on your knees
- Injury or overuse—Athletes and people who have active jobs are at higher risk of developing osteoarthritis
- Genetics—Recent research suggests that osteoarthritis is partially caused by your genes2
- Muscle weakness—Weakness in the muscles surrounding the knee joint increases your risk of developing osteoarthritis
- Other diseases—Rheumatoid arthritis, hemochromatosis (having too much iron) and acromegaly (excessive growth hormone) increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis
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1. Lawrence RC, Felson DT, Helmick CG, et al. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States. Part II. Arthritis Rheum. 2008;58(1):26-35.
2. Ding C, Cicuttini F, Blizzard L, Jones G. Genetic mechanisms of knee osteoarthritis: a population-based longitudinal study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2006;8(1):R8.
2. Ding C, Cicuttini F, Blizzard L, Jones G. Genetic mechanisms of knee osteoarthritis: a population-based longitudinal study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2006;8(1):R8.