How does osteoarthritis develop?
Osteoarthritis develops gradually when you get older as daily wear and tear takes a toll on your joints. A layer of cartilage covers the end of each bone in every joint. Cartilage is designed to cushion and lubricate your bones so that they can move within the joint.
Ongoing activity and pressure placed on your joints eventually causes cartilage to wear down. That’s the start of osteoarthritis, but degeneration is progressive. As more cartilage breaks down and one bone rubs another bone in the joint, osteoarthritis symptoms gradually worsen.
What symptoms will you experience with osteoarthritis?
The symptoms caused by osteoarthritis include:
- Pain: worse during or after movement
- Joint stiffness: most noticeable after sleeping or a period of rest
- Reduced mobility and flexibility: can’t move your joint through full range of motion
- Grating sensation: hear or feel grating when using the joint