Osteoarthritis (also known as OA) is a common joint disease that most often affects middleage to elderly people. It is commonly referred to as “wear and tear” of the joints, but we now know that OA is a disease of the entire joint, involving the cartilage, joint lining, ligaments, and bone. Although it is more common in older people, it is not really accurate to say that the joints are just “wearing out.” It is characterized by breakdown of the cartilage (the tissue that cushions the ends of the bones between joints), bony changes of the joints, deterioration of tendons and ligaments, and various degrees of inflammation of the joint lining (called the synovium).
REFERENCE: http://www.rheumatology.org/IAmA/PatientCaregiver/DiseasesConditions/Osteoarthritis
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