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What is Osteoarthritis

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Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis. Arthritis is a condition characterized by inflammation of joints in the body. Joint inflammations are caused by a number of reasons of which osteoarthritis is the most common one. The condition is also known by other names like degenerative joint disease and in some cases wear and tear arthritis. Other forms of arthritis include rheumatoid, gouty, and infectious arthritis.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the layer of cartilage covering the joint surface is worn thin. This occurs when there is damage to the worn cartilage. Osteoarthritis occurs both mechanically and biologically. The biological part of osteoarthritis is also known as abnormal joint biology.
Arthritis is believed to be part of the aging process since it affects most people from their 50s onwards. However it is still not clear why some develop the disease even in their 40s while others live their long lives without joint problems.
There is also a belief that arthritis can be attributed to the demands one placed on the affected joints during his or her youth. This belief has been proved untrue in many instances since many who have engaged in sports and other physically taxing activities during their youth never actually develop this problem. It can be said therefore that arthritis occurs due to a combination of underlying factors which affect different people in different ways. It can not be said to be an unavoidable consequence of aging. Neither can arthritis be attributed to one specific cause.
Previously osteoarthritis was believed to affect cartilage surface but recent investigations have shown that it affects the entire joint, damages the bone, and forms bone spurs. Osteoarthritis is also responsible for inflammation of soft tissues. It is important for physicians to better understand osteoarthritis and its causes in order to come up with effective treatment for their patients.

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