Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

PART 1 - Introduction

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the United States, impacting over 70 million Americans. It is a progressive degenerative condition that is increasingly common in people older than age 50 and the leading cause of disability for those over 65. Other risk factors include obesity, injury to a joint, and a family history of osteoarthritis.

With osteoarthritis, the articular cartilage in a joint has gradually worn away and often leads to pain. Besides pain, osteoarthritis can also cause muscle wasting, stiffness, restricted range of motion and functional impairment.

Treatment for osteoarthritis ranges from conservative care with medications and physical therapy to surgery. Increasingly, research shows that people with arthritis can also be treated with appropriate exercise without worsening the disease. In fact, exercise has been described as perhaps the most effective and inexpensive option available to achieve optimal outcomes. Minimally invasive treatments include "synthetic" joint fluid injections and arthroscopy, a surgical procedure that allows the surgeon to see the inside of a joint, diagnose the problem, and perform corrective surgery, if necessary. Major operative procedures for knee and hip osteoarthritis include joint replacement.

Staff from the OHSU Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation department present the natural history, risk factors and latest treatment options for osteoarthritis.

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