How does osteoarthritis (OA) damage your knee?

How does Osteoarthritis damage the knee?

Normally, smooth, firm tissue called cartilage covers and protects the ends of your bones. The fluid in the joint contains a substance called hyaluronate. This fluid acts as a "shock absorber" and lubricant so that the knee joint can work properly.

When you have OA of the knee:

The joint fluid may lose its ability to protect the joint
Smooth cartilage that normally protects the ends of the knee bones may lose its cushioning effect or become pitted and frayed. Large areas of cartilage may even wear away completely, so the bones scrape painfully over each other
Cartilage breakdown may cause the joint to lose its shape, and the bone ends may thicken and form bony spurs
Fragments of bone or cartilage may float in the joint space, causing further damage and pain
For this and other information please see http://www.arthritis.org/

Risk Factors

Age
Obesity
Injury or overuse
Genetics or heredity
Muscle weakness
Other diseases and types of arthritis

TALK TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

if you think you have OA of the knee

References

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