Osteoarthritis is a disease in which joints typically wear out and undergo pathological changes as the person gets older. Those affected usually experience pain and stiffness in their joints, which can also severely impair mobility. This disease can appear in any joint and frequently affects the knees, hips, hand and finger joints as well as the spine.
In addition to advancing age, there are many other risk factors:
- Genetic predisposition
- Gender (women are more likely to experience osteoarthritis)
- Misaligned joints
- Repetitive strain at work
- Sports that strain the joints
- Previous joint injuries (ligament injuries, meniscus damage, etc.)
- Lack of physical activity
- Severe overweight
Osteoarthritis should be treated immediately to prevent the condition from worsening and alleviate the pain. The usual recommendation is to use a combination of medications and various non-drug therapies. The cause of the osteoarthritis should also be determined and treated (e.g. misalignment or overweight). Highly advanced osteoarthritis often necessitates a joint replacement (artificial joint).
More information on osteoarthritis is available on the website gesundheit.gv.at