What Is Osteoarthritis?

Abstract

What Is Osteoarthritis?Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of arthritis that causes joint pain and impairment of function.Although OA has commonly been attributed to the "wear and tear" of aging, it is now understood as a complex disease involving breakdown of cartilage between bones, bone remodeling, and joint inflammation.Although OA can involve any joint in the body, the joints most frequently affected are the hips, knees, feet, and hands.Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and affects an estimated 32 million people in the US and more than 240 million people worldwide.