Osteoarthritis Fact Sheet

Osteoarthritis (OA), also called osteoarthroses or degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of
arthritis. OA is a result of genetic, local mechanical stresses or systemic factors and is a chronic condition
characterized by the breakdown and loss of the joint’s cartilage, bony overgrowth and alterations in the
ligaments, menisci and muscles around the joint. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends
of the bones and allows easy movement of joints. The breakdown of cartilage causes the bones to rub
against each other. Symptoms of OA include joint pain, aching, stiffness and swelling resulting in
decreased function and mobility.

Impact of Osteoarthritis:

• OA is highly prevalent and on the rise. Nearly 27 million adults have OA, a number expected to
increase with longer life expectancies, the obesity epidemic, and the first of the 78.2 million baby
i
boomers reaching retirement age in 2011. Half of all adults will develop symptomatic OA of the
ii
knee at some point in their lives and that risk increases with obesity to two of every three obese
adults.
U.S. Department of Commerce.Facts for Features – January 3, 2006 http://www.census.gov
1
Murphy L, Schwartz TA, Helmick CG, Renner JB, Tudor G, Koch G, et al. Lifetime risk of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism
2008;59(9):1207-1213

Lawrence RC, Felson DT, Helmick CG, Arnold LM, Choi H, Deyo RA, Gabriel S, Hirsch R, Hochberg MC, Hunder GG, Jordan JM, Katz JN, Maradit Kremers H,
and Wolfe F for the National Arthritis Data Workgroup. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States: Part II.
Arthritis & Rheumatism 2008;58(1):26-35.

• OA typically affects only certain joints, such as the hips, hands, knees, low back and neck.

• After age 50, women are more often affected by OA than men.
• Lawrence RC, Felson DT, Helmick CG, Arnold LM, Choi H, Deyo RA, Gabriel S, Hirsch R, Hochberg MC, Hunder GG, Jordan JM, Katz JN, Maradit Kremers H,
and Wolfe F for the National Arthritis Data Workgroup. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States: Part II.
Arthritis & Rheumatism 2008;58(1):26-35.

• OA is not just an old person’s disease. Symptoms of OA typically first begin after age 40 and
effect a large working population. OA can develop within 10 years of a major joint injury. Thus a
teenager injured at age 15 could have OA as early as age 25 or 30.
Roos H. Osteoarthritis of the knee after injury to the anterior cruciate ligament or meniscus: The influence of time and age. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 1995;3(4):261-
267

• OA places substantial limits on daily activity and quality of life. About 25% of people with knee
OA have pain on walking and have difficulty doing major activities of daily living (ADLs) such as
walking ¼ mile, climbing stairs, and kneeling or stooping. In addition, 15% have to use an
assistive device such as a cane or crutch for walking. Annually, nearly one million years are lived
with disability from hip and knee OA, making it the third leading cause of years lived with a
disability (YLD) in the U.S.
Michaud CM, McKenna MT, Begg S, Tomijima N, Majmudar M, Bulzacchelli MT, et al. The burden of disease and injury in the United States 1996. Population
Health Metrics 2006 Oct 18;4:11.

• Loss of joint function as a result of OA is a major cause of work disability. As more adults
continue to work beyond age 65, OA is likely to further impede the quality of their work and their
ability to engage in long awaited retirement activities without pain and disability.
Theis KA, Hootman JM, Helmick CG, Murphy L, Bolen J, Langmaid G, Jones GC. State-specific prevalence of arthritis-attributable work limitation—United States,
2003. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2007;56(40):1045–1050. www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5640a2.htm

• OA complicates other diseases as more than half of all adults with diabetes or heart disease have
arthritis. Physical activity is a key element for managing these prevalent chronic diseases and OA
pain stops participation.
Bolen J, Hootman J, Helmick CG, Murphy L, Langmaid G, Caspersen CJ. Arthritis as a potential barrier to physical activity among adults with diabetes — United
States, 2005 and 2007. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2008;57(18):486-489. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5718a3.htm

• OA results in 632,000 joint replacements each year.

United States Bone and Joint Decade. The burden of musculoskeletal diseases in the United States. Rosemont, IL:American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons;2008.
 • Arthritis and related conditions, such as OA, cost the U.S. economy nearly $128 billion per year in
medical care and indirect expenses, including lost wages and productivity.
[MMWR 2007;56(01):4-7. [Data Source: 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey]

• The average direct cost of OA is approximately $2,600 per year per person living with OA.
[Gabriel SE, Crowson CS, Campion ME et al. Direct medical costs unique to people with arthritis. J Rheumatol, 1997;24(4):719-25].

• The total annual cost of OA per person living with OA is approximately $5700.
[Maetzel A, Li LC, Pencharz J, Tomlinson F Bombardier C. The economic burden associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension : A
comparative study. Ann Rheum Dis, 2004;63(4):395-401].

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis:

• Pain or stiffness in joints after periods of inactivity or excessive use

• Grating or “catching” sensation during joint movement

• Loss of cartilage and bony overgrowths at the margins of affected joints

Causes of Osteoarthritis:

• The cause of OA is not yet known, but certain factors increase the risk of developing OA
o Heredity
o Overweight
o Joint injury
o Repeated overuse of certain joints
o Lack of physical activity
o Nerve injury
o Aging

Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis:

• The diagnosis of OA is typically based on a medical history and physical examination.

• Doctors sometimes recommend that patients have X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
to rule out other causes of pain and to determine how much joint damage has occurred.

• Joint aspiration, a procedure in which fluid is drained from the affected joints and examined, and
blood tests also may be used to rule out other forms of arthritis in the body.

Management of Osteoarthritis:

• Treatment of OA varies with the severity of symptoms and focuses on decreasing pain and
improving joint movement and function.

• Treatment plans often include a combination of weight loss, rest, physical activity, joint protection,
bracing, use of heat or cold to reduce pain, drugs and physical or occupational therapy.

• Weight control is important for prevention of and to slow the progression of OA affecting the
weight-bearing joints (knees and hips).

 For every one pound of weight lost, there is a four pound reduction in the load exerted on
the knee for each step taken during daily activities.
["Weight Loss Reduces Knee-Joint Loads in Overweight and Obese Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis," Stephen P. Messier, David J.
Gutekunst, Cralen Davis, and Paul DeVita, Arthritis & Rheumatism, July 2005; 52:7; pp. 2026-2032].
 Losing as few as 11 pounds can cut the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis by 50
percent for some women.
[“Weight Loss Resuces the Risk for Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis in Women,” David T. Felson, MD, MPH; Yuqing Zhang, MB, MPH; John M.
Anthony, BA, BS; Allen Naimark, MD; and Jennifer J. Anderson, PhD, Annals of Internal Medicine, 1992; 116:535 539].
 Weight loss of only 15 pounds can cut knee pain in half for overweight individuals with
arthritis.
[Bartlett SJ, Haaz S, Wrobleski P et al. Small weight losses can yield significant improvements in knee OA symptoms. Arthritis & Rheumatism 50[9
(S)], S658. 2004].
 • Physical activity keeps joints flexible, maintains or improves muscle strength and assists with
weight reduction (i.e. Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program or Arthritis Foundation Aquatic
Program).

• Joint protection prevents strain or stress on painful joints. Braces, canes and shoe inserts can
assist with pain reduction of lower extremity OA.

• Many people with OA use pain medications such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help reduce joint pain, stiffness and swelling and to allow them to
become physically active.

• Corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid derivatives can be injected into joints that are unresponsive to
non drug treatment.

• Dietary supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate have been shown in some
studies of severe knee OA to relieve pain and improve joint function.

• Surgery is an important consideration in people with advanced OA associated with joint damage
and/or marked limitations in joint function.

How does the Arthritis Foundation help?

The Arthritis Foundation supports research, health education and government advocacy efforts to
improve the lives of the nearly 46 million Americans with arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of
disability. These services include:
• Number-one ranked comprehensive arthritis website, www.arthritis.org
• Toll-free information phone line: 1-800-283-7800
• Nearly 100 consumer educational brochures, booklets and books
• Arthritis Today, the Arthritis Foundation’s bi-monthly consumer magazine reaching 3.8 million
readers per issue
• Evidence-based water and land exercise classes, self-help courses with certified Arthritis
Foundation trainers
• Local chapter offices nationwide
• Physician referral lists
• Extensive funding of arthritis research grants at institutions nationwide
• Federal and state advocacy efforts to ensure rights and access to care for all people with arthritis
• Through strategic partnerships the Arthritis Foundation extends its reach to help the millions of
people with and at risk for arthritis

For a free brochure about osteoarthritis or to locate the nearest Arthritis Foundation chapter, call the
Arthritis Foundation toll-free at 1-800-283-7800 or visit its website at www.arthritis.org. Or, write to:
Arthritis Foundation, P. O. Box 7669, Atlanta, GA 30357-0669.

The Arthritis Foundation is the only nationwide, nonprofit health organization helping people take greater
control of arthritis.

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control
and cure of arthritis and related diseases.

© 2008 Arthritis Foundation. All rights reserved.

i
U.S. Department of Commerce.Facts for Features – January 3, 2006 http://www.census.gov
ii
Murphy L, Schwartz TA, Helmick CG, Renner JB, Tudor G, Koch G, et al. Lifetime risk of
symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism 2008;59(9):1207-1213