Overview:

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis. It is a long-term disease of the joint cartilage and bone, commonly thought to result from "wear and tear" on a joint. There are also other causes, such as some birth defects, trauma, and metabolic disorders.

Risk Factors:

• In people younger than 45, osteoarthritis occurs more frequently in males. After age 45, it develops more often in females.
• Obesity places people (particularly women) at a higher risk for osteoarthritis.
• Some occupations with repeated stressful motions can contribute to the deterioration of cartilage.

Exercise: Three types of exercise are best for people with osteoarthritis:

• Strengthening exercises, which include isometric exercises (pushing or pulling against static resistance). For patients with arthritis in the hip or knees, exercises that strengthen the muscles of the upper leg are important.
• Range-of-motion exercises increase the amount of movement in a joint and muscle.
• Aerobic, or endurance, exercises help control weight and may reduce inflammation in some joints.

Complementary Medicine:

• Acupuncture appears to be a safe and may be a helpful addition to standard therapy for some patients, such as pregnant women, who cannot take most pain medications.

Surgery:

• A recent study found that elderly patients with poorly controlled osteoarthritis do very well after joint replacement surgery. However, physicians often neglect to suggest this option to older patients.
• A variation on the traditional hip replacement is the newer procedure known as minimally invasive hip replacement. This surgeion must be extremely experienced. The procedure uses special instruments and a shorter incision (3 - 6 inches vs. 10 - 12 inches in traditional hip replacement).