What is osteoarthritis?

This sheet has been written for people affected by osteoarthritis (OA). It provides general information to help you understand how osteoarthritis affects you and what you can do to manage it. It also tells you where to find further information and advice. 

About Osteoarthritis 

There's a common belief that the pain and limitations in movement associated with osteoarthritis are solely due to changes in the joint surface (e.g. the cartilage) This perspective often leads to people to incorrectly believing that surgical intervention is their only option to repair a 'damaged' joint. 

However, recent evidence suggests that osteoarthritis is more than just an issue of the cartilage and bones; it's a broader condition that involves the entire person. Although often described as ‘wear and tear’, OA is now thought to be the result of a joint working extra hard to repair itself. Various factors such as biology, psychology, and social influences all contribute to how our joints feel and function. It's not just about fixing the affected area, it's about understanding how different factors interact to affect things like inflammation, pain and how we behave, all of which contribute to the pain and difficulty in movement associated with osteoarthritis. So, managing osteoarthritis effectively should involve a holistic approach that considers the broader picture of your health and well-being. 

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint but occurs most often in the knees, hips, finger and big toe joints. Osteoarthritis can develop at any age but tends to be more common in people aged over 40 years or those who have had joint injuries. Changes associated with osteoarthritis in joints may involve: 

• inflammation and swelling of the tissue around a joint 
• changes to joint cartilage - this is the protective cushion on the ends of your bones which allows a joint to move smoothly
• bony spurs growing around the edge of a joint 
• loosening of ligaments (the tough bands that hold your joint together) and tendons (cords that attach muscles to bones). 

Osteoarthritis is different to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones become fragile and brittle, causing them to break more easily. 

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis? 

The symptoms of osteoarthritis vary from person to person. Your symptoms will also depend on which joints are affected. Osteoarthritis tends to come on slowly, over months or even years. The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness of the joints. These sensations are usually worse with activity initially but can be more constant overtime. These symptoms may affect your ability to do normal daily activities, such as walking, climbing stairs and opening jars. Other symptoms may include clicking noises, grating sensations, or a loss of flexibility in a joint. 

What causes osteoarthritis? 

Research shows there are some things that may put you at more risk of developing osteoarthritis in certain joints, such as^1-3:

• knees: being overweight; having a previous knee injury; jobs involving kneeling; climbing and squatting 
• hips: being overweight; having a previous hip injury; jobs involving lifting heavy loads (including farming); a family history of osteoarthritis. 
• hands: a family history of osteoarthritis; repetitive use or previous injuries to the hands; being overweight 

How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

Your doctor will diagnose osteoarthritis from your symptoms and a physical examination. Typically, x-rays are not needed to diagnose osteoarthritis. Although x-rays can see osteoarthritic changes that may have affected the bones, x-rays can’t tell us if your osteoarthritis will cause you any pain, nor tell us which treatments will be most beneficial for you. Blood tests are only helpful to rule out other types of arthritis. 

What is the long-term impact of Osteoarthritis? 

The impact of osteoarthritis on your normal activities and lifestyle depends on which joints are affected. However, the outlook for most people with OA is very positive. Most people with osteoathritis find that they have 'good' days and not so good days but overall their symptoms remain stable. Sometimes, osteoarthritis of the hip and knee can cause severe disability and surgery to replace the painful joint may be necessary. However, joint replacement surgery is usually only an option if other treatments, such as weight loss, exercise, and medicines, have failed to control your symptoms. 

Is there a cure for Osteoarthritis? 

Currently there is no cure for osteoarthritis.⁴ While there are treatments that can effectively control symptoms, you should be wary of products or therapies that claim to cure osteoarthritis. 

What treatments help Osteoarthritis? 

Treatments for osteoarthritis vary depending on which joints are affected and the severity of your condition. There is no way of predicting exactly which treatment will work best for you. Each treatment has its own benefits and risks. Your doctor may need to trial several different treatments before finding the one that is right for you. In general terms, treatment usually includes: 

• Staying physically active and moving your body and joints regularly  
• a weight loss program, if you are overweight 
• an exercise program tailored to your condition and ability 
• pain relief, using medicines such as topical anti-inflammatory cream or gel, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). 
• devices such as braces, walking sticks, and shoe insoles joint replacement surgery, only as a last-resort option if your symptoms are no longer controlled with other therapies.

Your local Arthritis Office has information sheets on physical activity, healthy eating, medicines and surgery. 

What can I do for Osteoarthritis? 

See your doctor for treatment and advice. Your doctor will help you get the right treatment to manage your symptoms. See the Working with your healthcare team information sheet. 

Learn about osteoarthritis and play an active role in your treatment. Not all information you read or hear about is trustworthy so always talk to your doctor or healthcare team about treatments you are thinking about trying. Reliable sources of further information are also listed in the section below. Self-management courses aim to help you develop skills to be actively involved in your healthcare. Contact your local Arthritis Office for details of these courses.

Learn ways to manage pain. See the ‘Managing pain’ information sheet.

Stay active. Exercise is strongly recommended for people with osteoarthritis. It keeps your joints and muscles healthy and flexible and prevents other health problems. You may find it useful to see a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist for advice. See the Physical Activity and Working with your healthcare team information sheets. Have a healthy diet. There is no diet that will cure osteoarthritis, but a diet aimed at maintaining an ideal body weight is recommended.

Balance your life. Learn about equipment that make daily tasks easier and how to balance rest and activity. See the Saving energy information sheet. 

Acknowledge your feelings and seek support. As there is currently no cure for OA, it is natural to feel scared, frustrated, sad and sometimes angry. Be aware of these feelings and get help if they start affecting your daily life. 

Other Resources

Podcasts: https://www.jointaction.info/podcast 

Websites: 

Arthritis Research UK www.arthritisresearchuk.org 

American College of Rheumatology: www.rheumatology.org 

Arthritis Foundation (US) www.arthritis.org 

References: 

1. Allen KD, Thoma LM, Golightly YM. Epidemiology of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and cartilage. 2022;30(2):184-195. 

2. Minnig MCC, Golightly YM, Nelson AE. Epidemiology of osteoarthritis: literature update 2022-2023. Current opinion in rheumatology. 2024;36(2):108-112. 

3. Metcalfe D, Perry DC, Claireaux HA, Simel DL, Zogg CK, Costa ML. Does This Patient Have Hip Osteoarthritis?: The Rational Clinical Examination Systematic Review. JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association. 2019;322(23):2323-2333. 

4. Smedslund G, Kjeken I, Musial F, Sexton J, Østerås N. Interventions for osteoarthritis pain: A systematic review with network meta-analysis of existing Cochrane reviews. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open. 2022;4(2):100242.