Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is associated with wear and tear of the joints. OA is the breakdown of cartilage and can occur in any joint in the body. Understanding osteoarthritis can help you identify and care for your joint issues as you age.

1. Understanding Osteoarthritis
Informational Presentation by Flexcin International

2. • What is arthritis?
• What is Osteoarthritis?
• Causes & Symptoms
• How is it diagnosed?
• How is it treated?
• Current Osteoarthritis Research
• Resources
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
Table of Contents

3. The simple definition of arthritis is inflammation of the joints. Arthritis is normally
characterized by pain and stiffness in the affected joints.
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Arthritis is not a single disease. The term arthritis refers to over 100 medical
conditions that fall under the same umbrella. The two most common forms of
arthritis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
What is arthritis?

4. What is Osteoarthritis?

5. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is associated with
wear and tear of the joints. OA is the breakdown of cartilage and can occur in
any joint in the body. The cartilage affected by OA becomes stiff and loses its
elasticity, putting it at a greater risk for damage. Over time, the cartilage then
wears away, decreasing its ability to act as a shock absorber. This causes
ligaments and tendons to stretch, creating pain. Eventually, the bones may rub
against each other.
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
What is Osteoarthritis?

6. Causes & Symptoms

7. There are several factors that come into play when it comes to the development
of osteoarthritis. These include:
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1. Obesity
2. Injury
3. Joint overuse
4. Heredity
5. Other diseases
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
Causes & Symptoms

8. Symptoms of osteoarthritis normally include:
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• Swelling of the joints
• Aching and soreness
• Stiffness after periods of rest
• Pain after overuse or after periods of inactivity
• At the middle and end of joints in the fingers bony enlargements may be
present
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Understanding Oteoarthritis
Causes & Symptoms

9. How is it diagnosed?

10. Your doctor will perform a physical exam first to monitor your range of motion,
observe if there is fluid in your joints, and to see if they are warm and red. If there
is fluid present in the joints, the doctor will remove it for analysis. Taking note of
your inflammation levels will also help the doctor determine which type of
arthritis you have. Imaging scans like X-rays, MRI's or CT scans will also be given
to help define where in your body the symptoms are coming from.
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
How is it diagnosed?

11. How is it treated?

12. The symptoms of osteoarthritis are treated in several different ways. Many
people try a combination of the following treatments depending on their age,
occupation, medical history, severity of condition, location of arthritis, and overall
health.
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1. Muscle strengthening exercises
2. Physical therapy
3. Using crutches, cane, or walker
4. Removal of joint fluid
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
How is it treated?

13. 5. Oral medications
6. Joint supplements
7. Weight loss
8. Hot and cold compresses applied to the joint
9. Injections of medicine into the joint
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
How is it treated?

14. 5. Oral medications
6. Joint supplements
7. Weight loss
8. Hot and cold compresses applied to the joint
9. Injections of medicine into the joint
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
How is it treated?

15. Current Osteoarthritis Research

16. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that does not currently have a cure.
Research is constantly being conducted in order to find better treatments and
eventually, a cure.
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University of Liverpool scientists reported a new cause of joint destruction that
grinds away healthy cartilage, worsening osteoarthritis in human hip joints in
August 2014. Their study revealed the presence of high density mineralized
protrusions (HDMP) which have only been previously seen in horses.
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
Current Osteoarthritis Research

17. These protrusions happen when the body attempts to fill in cracks in joint
cartilage. These pieces can break off and grind against healthy tissue.
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Another recent study published in Canadian Medical Association Journal
(CMAJ), found that doctors should closer weigh the costs and benefits when
deciding which osteoarthritis patients should undergo surgery. Middle-aged and
older patients with little or no osteoarthritis of the knee may not benefit from
arthroscopic knee surgery.
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
Current Osteoarthritis Research

18. The study results encourage use of other treatments prior to knee surgery to
treat OA.
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These are just a few recent studies as new reports and research are being
published every day on osteoarthritis .
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
Current Osteoarthritis Research

19. Resources

20. Resources include:
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• What's the Difference Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis?
• 6 Arthritis Myths Debunked
• 8 Low Impact Exercises For Your Joints
• Relieving Joint Pain - Joint Supplements vs. OTC Pain Relievers
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Understanding Osteoarthritis
Resources
For additional resources on Osteoarthritis, Arthritis, and joint health visit:
!
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