Osteoarthritis

Also called: Degenerative joint disease, OA, Osteoarthrosis

National Institutes of Health

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

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Osteoarthritis

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

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

No single test can diagnose 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 of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

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 (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)

Treatments and Therapies

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
Managing Osteoarthritis Pain with Medicines: A Review of the Research for Adults(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) - PDFAlso in Spanish
Shoulder Joint Replacement (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Shoulder Osteoarthritis Treatment (Beyond the Basics) (UpToDate)
Tibial osteotomy - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
Time to Talk: 6 Things You Should Know about Dietary Supplements for Osteoarthritis (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Treating Osteoarthritis of the Knee Popular: Supplements Don't Work (Consumers Union of U.S.)

Living With

Living with Arthritis (American Occupational Therapy Association) - PDF
Physical Activity for Arthritis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish

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)