Library · Disease
Osteoarthritis
Make it clearer
Osteoarthritis is a disease in which the tissues of a joint change and deteriorate over time. It is more than another name for joint pain.
Picture the joint as a complete system, not as a single cushion. Cartilage changes, but so do other tissues inside the joint. That is why osteoarthritis is not accurately described as simple mechanical wear and tear of the cartilage.
In brief
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease in which the tissues of a joint deteriorate over time.
It does not affect cartilage alone. Other tissues within the joint also change, and the process cannot be explained as simple mechanical wear and tear.
Picture a joint as a complete system of surfaces, lining, supports, and bone, not as a single pad of cartilage.
Sources (1)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIHOsteoarthritisPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated