Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and affects around 9 million people in the UK. In most cases people are over the age of 45 years old. The most common areas for OA to occur are the knee, hips, feet, back and hands

It is caused by the slowed down repair of the articular cartilage in joints, this happens over the course of someone's lifetime hence why we don't usually see symptom until after the age of 45 years old. During the repair process the body can actually start to grow extra bits of bone called osteophytes which can cause further damage and issues. OA can also cause swelling around the joint due to synovitis and excess synovial fluid being produced.

Risk Factors

• Age (>45 years old)

• Female (2x more likely)

• Obesity

• High/Low bone density

• Joint Injuries

• Joint malalignment

• Occupational stress

• Reduced muscle strength

• Genetics

Symptoms

• Activity-related joint pain

• Morning stiffness (<30 minutes)

• Swelling

• Joint warmth

• Muscle weakness/wasting

• Restricted or painful movement

• Crepitus

Treatment

• Weight loess

• Exercising regularly (Strengthen the joint takes off the load, but general exercise has been proven to be very benificial)

• Use of analgesics

• Reducing stress around affected joints

• Surgical joint replacement (In severe pain cases)

• Steroid Injection (minimal evidence)

• Using resources like Versus Arthritis

Difference Diagnosis

• Inflammatory Conditions

• Septic Joint

• Fractur

• Malignancy

• Ligamentous Injuries

• Meniscal tears

• ITB syndrome

• GTPS

• PFPS

• Stenosis

• Radiculopathy

1. NICE. (2022), Osteoarthritis. Available from: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/osteoarthritis/. [Accessed March, 2023.]