Osteoarthritis

By General Info

Osteoarthritis Overview

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is a condition that widely affects about 30 million Americans. Osteoarthritis can form in any joint of the body but is usually seen in the major joints, such as the knees and hips. Osteoarthritis begins to form once the body’s natural shock absorber, cartilage, breaks down. Cartilage provides support in all of the body’s joints to allow for cushioning and easy gliding between the bones of a joint. Once this layer of cushion has been worn away the bones will grind on each other which will lead to increased pain and may cause the bones to break down. Some causes of Osteoarthritis have been linked to: previous injuries, being overweight, and imbalances of the hip and thigh musculature.