Knowra Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a whole-joint disease involving cartilage loss, bone remodeling, and changes in other joint tissues. It can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced movement.
Articular cartilage : Smooth connective tissue covering the ends of bones within movable joints. Its breakdown reduces the joint’s cushioning and is a defining feature of osteoarthritis.
Synovial joint : A freely movable joint whose bones are enclosed by a capsule and separated by a fluid-filled cavity. Osteoarthritis most often affects this joint type.
Exercise therapy : Structured physical activity used to improve strength, mobility, or physical function. Strengthening and aerobic exercise are core treatments for osteoarthritis symptoms and function.
Rheumatoid arthritis : A chronic autoimmune disease in which inflammation attacks the lining of joints. Unlike typical osteoarthritis, it is a systemic inflammatory disease that often affects joints symmetrically.
Osteoarthritis risk factors : Characteristics and exposures associated with the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis. Age, prior injury, body weight, and other factors interact, but do not fully explain who develops disease.
Subchondral bone : Bone tissue directly beneath the cartilage at a joint surface. It remodels as cartilage thins, producing characteristic changes such as sclerosis and cysts.
Joint capsule : The connective-tissue envelope surrounding a synovial joint. Capsule changes can contribute to stiffness and restricted movement.
Weight loss : A reduction in body mass, achieved through changes in energy intake, activity, or both. For people with overweight or obesity, weight loss can reduce knee loading and improve symptoms.
Gout : An inflammatory arthritis caused by deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints and tissues. Sudden, intensely painful attacks distinguish gout from the usual gradual course of osteoarthritis.
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis : Osteoarthritis that develops after an injury to a joint. It offers a defined setting for studying how injury can initiate long-term joint deterioration.
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