Osteoarthritis of knee

 

Osteoarthritis, commonly known as wear-and-tear arthritis, is a condition in which the natural cushioning between joints- cartilage wears away. When this happens, the bones of the joints rub more closely against one another with less of the shock-absorbing benefits of cartilage. The rubbing results in pain, swelling, stiffness, decreased ability to move and, sometimes, the formation of bone spurs.

While age is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis of the knee, young people can get it, too. For some individuals, it may be hereditary. For others, osteoarthritis of the knee can result from injury or infection or even from being overweight.
Women are more likely to have osteoarthritis than men.

Although there is no cure for arthritis, there are many treatment options available to help manage pain and keep people staying active.

It is divided into two types, primary and secondary:

• Primary osteoarthritis - is articular degeneration without any apparent underlying cause.

• Secondary osteoarthritis - is the consequence of either an abnormal concentration of force across the joint as with post-traumatic causes or abnormal articular cartilage, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Common clinical symptoms

• Knee pain that is gradual in onset and worsens with activity.
• Knee stiffness and swelling.
• Pain after prolonged sitting or resting.
• Crepitus or a cracking sound with joint movement.

• feeling of warmth in the joint.

Some causes

•Age- The ability of cartilage to heal decreases as a person gets older.

•Weight- Weight increases pressure on all the joints, especially the knees. Every pound of weight you gain adds 3 to 4 pounds of extra weight on your knees.

•Joint injuries- Injuries, such as those that occur when playing sports or from an accident, can increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Even injuries that occurred many years ago and seemingly healed can increase your risk of osteoarthritis.

•Gender- Women ages 55 and older are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis of the knee.

•Repetitive stress injuries- These are usually a result of the type of job a person has. People with certain occupations that include a lot of activity that can stress the joint, such as kneeling, squatting, or lifting heavy weights, are more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee because of the constant pressure on the joint.

•Certain metabolic diseases- These include diabetes and a condition in which your body has too much iron (hemochromatosis).

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