WHAT IS KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS?

Arthritis is a general term that means joint disease.  There are hundreds of specific types of arthritis, each with different causes, that affect joints in different ways. 

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis.  OA occurs because of  “wear and tear” in the joint mostly associated with getting older in age.   Permanent damage in the protective cartilage between the bones causes a loss of cushioning and joint instability.  This leads to painful inflammation.  OA can occur in almost all joints in the body, but is especially common in the knee.

Knee OA causes joint pain because of cartilage breakdown that typically occurs over many years.  There are many risk factors that may increase risk of developing knee OA that may include genetics, lifestyle factors, injury history, occupation, etc. 

Although OA is a leading cause of knee pain, there are other structures in the knee that can become painful from injury or overuse.  Muscles and tendons that move the joint can become torn or strained.   Ligaments that connect the bones together can rupture or become sprained.