Women are more commonly affected at a younger age than men. We now know that the disease represents a process in which the normal balance between cartilage synthesis and degradation is upset.
Cartilage is the part of the joint which cushions the ends of bones.
OA involves the development of bony outgrowths or osteophytes emerging at the joint margins. Cartilage breakdown or degradation causes bone to rub against bone, causing pain and loss of movement. Some people may be predisposed to OA at birth due to defective cartilage or defects in the way joints fit together. Also, when a person ages, there is increased cartilage breakdown. The general symptoms of osteoarthritis are slowly developing joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.