Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, or osteoarthritis, is a chronic condition that is manifested by persistent pain in the joints caused by abnormal cartilage wear and the entire joint. It is the most common form of arthritis: 1 in 10 Canadians suffers from it1.

The most commonly affected joints are the knee, hip and spine. However, other joints, such as the shoulder, ankle and wrist, can also be affected. Osteoarthritis of the fingers (digital osteoarthritis) is also very common, especially in women.

Prevalence

According to Statistics Canada, osteoarthritis affects 10% of the Canadian population, both men and women. After the age of 55, however, women are more affected. The prevalence of osteoarthritis increases with age. At age 70, most people have osteoarthritis in one or more joints.

Causes

The causes of osteoarthritis are multiple. Mechanical factors are in the foreground, associated with genetic factors, an inflammation process, etc. Osteoarthritis is a disease that results in abnormal cartilage degeneration. Indeed, wear of a joint with age should not cause osteoarthritis. However, repetitive movements and repetitive strain injuries can cause abnormal wear leading to osteoarthritis. Excess weight and lack of physical activity are two other important factors.

Types of osteoarthritis

Primary osteoarthritis. When the person with osteoarthritis has no obvious predisposition, osteoarthritis is referred to as "primary".

Secondary osteoarthritis. Diseases that affect the joints, such as inflammatory diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, etc.) and metabolic diseases (diabetes, hemochromatosis), predispose to osteoarthritis. The same is true of injuries and surgeries to a joint. When there is a predisposition for one or the other of these situations, it is secondary osteoarthritis.