Exercising your OA-affected joints is really important  Agneta had long struggled with pain in her right knee, but because she felt she could still manage daily life despite the discomfort, it took a while before she sought medical advice. However, delaying seeking care meant postponing the right treatment, which eventually led to an emergency hospital visit. At the hospital, she underwent an X-ra

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/my-oa-story/my-story-agneta - 2025-04-05

The Arthritis Portal is an initiative by researchers at Lund University with the aim to share accurate and up-to-date information about osteoarthritis including the latest developments in osteoarthritis research. The Arthritis Portal has been made possible to launch thanks to generous contributions from The Foundation for Assistance to the Disabled in southern Sweden (Stiftelsen för bistånd åt rör

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-us - 2025-04-05

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/arthritisportal - 2025-04-05

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis? Exercise and osteoarthritis Young with osteoarthritis Do you have healthy knees and want to contribute to osteoarthritis research? Herbal medicines Arthroplasty Diagnosing OA Similar diseases OA after joint injury Donate to research FAQ Like us on Facebook!

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/startpage - 2025-04-05

Old age, a previous joint injury, gender and weight are examples of risk factors for osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex joint disease as it is often difficult to know the exact cause for why a person develops the disease. What we do know, is that several genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors play a role in increasing the risk of developing OA The more risk factors present, the

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/risk-factors-oa - 2025-04-05

Stiffness, pain, and swelling of the joints can be signs of osteoarthritis (OA). However, depending on which joint is affected, these symptoms may vary. Listed below are the most common symptoms of OA in different joints. Experiencing stiffness or pain in one or more joints, especially after applying pressure to the joint, may be symptoms of OA. The more risk factors you have (OA in the family, be

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/symptoms-oa - 2025-04-05

Although there is no guaranteed way to avoid being affected by osteoarthritis, there are several external risk factors that can be reduced to prevent developing the joint disease. There is no guaranteed way to avoid being affected by osteoarthritis (OA), however, the fewer risk factors present, the smaller the risk is of being affected by the disease. Risk factors such as genes, biological gender,

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/preventing-oa - 2025-04-05

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body but most commonly affects the knees, hips and fingers. Osteoarthritis of the hand can affect the joints closest to the fingertips, the middle joints of the fingers, the wrist, or the base of the thumb. In osteoarthritis of the fingers, nodes and other deformities are common. Illustration by: Laboratoires Servier Knees Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/commonly-affected-joints - 2025-04-05

A clinical diagnosis where an X-ray often isn’t necessary. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a clinical diagnosis, meaning that a diagnosis should be made primarily through a clinical examination by a doctor or a physiotherapist. As OA can affect a joint long before the disease is visible on an x-ray which is why a diagnosis is based on symptoms, risk factors, and medical history.  Sometimes OA is difficult

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/diagnosing-oa - 2025-04-05

A previous joint injury increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis already between the ages of 25-35. Young athletes who have suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear or a meniscus injury may proceed to develop knee osteoarthritis already 15-20 years after their injury. Being diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) at an early age is not uncommon and there is a strong link between severe

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/oa-after-joint-injury - 2025-04-05

A cartilage cell is surrounded by extracellular matrix consisting of proteins (collagen fibers), non-proteoglycan polysaccharides (hyaluronic acid), and proteoglycan (aggrecan). Illustrations downloaded from: Biorender.com The articular cartilage consists of cartilage cells (also known as chondrocytes) surrounded by extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix is a network of proteins and sugar

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/cartilage - 2025-04-05

The illustration shows a healthy knee joint to the left and an osteoarthritis-affected knee joint to the right. Illustration by: Andrea Dell'Isola Osteoarthritis (OA) affects not only the cartilage but the entire joint, i.e., the synovium, the joint capsule, the synovial fluid, the menisci, the ligaments, the muscles, and the bones. The exact order in which the joint is affected is not clear and c

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/joint - 2025-04-05

Osteoarthritis increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. People with osteoarthritis (OA) face an increased risk of developing comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, depression, stroke, and diabetes. Greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease Research on the link between OA and cardiovascular disease has shown that people living with knee OA for 10 years o

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/comorbidities-oa - 2025-04-05

Although osteoarthritis is the most common rheumatic disease, there are a number of other rheumatic diseases that share similar symptoms. Joint pain can have several causes and is not necessarily a sign of osteoarthritis (OA). OA may be the most common rheumatic disease, but it is not the only disease that causes symptoms such as pain and stiffness of the joints. Other causes of joint pain include

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/similar-diseases - 2025-04-05

How do I recognize osteoarthritis? How is osteoarthritis treated? Do I need surgery? It’s completely normal that several questions come to mind when talking or thinking about the most common joint disease. Below we answer some of the most frequently asked questions on OA. What are the early signs of osteoarthritis?What should I do if I suspect osteoarthritis?What is the cure for osteoarthritis?Why

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/osteoarthritis-faq - 2025-04-05

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ACL The abbreviation for the anterior cruciate ligament. The ACL is one of two cruciate ligaments in the knee that gives the knee stability. Aggrecan A proteoglycan (a protein to which long carbohydrate chains are attached) is a central component of the extracellular matrix in the articular cartilage. The function of aggrecan is to draw water into

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/osteoarthritis-z - 2025-04-05

There are many misconceptions about osteoarthritis. Below we debunk four of the most common myths about the joint disease. Myth 1: OA only affects the elderly No. The risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA) does increase with age; however, even young adults may develop the disease. OA in young people is in most cases due to a previous joint injury. Myth 2: OA is a wear and tear injury and exercise

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/about-osteoarthritis/common-oa-myths - 2025-04-05

Losing weight can reduce osteoarthritis pain and increase joint mobility. Overweight, obesity, and osteoarthritis More than 1.9 billion adults over the age of 18 are overweight. A BMI (body mass index) of over 25 is deemed overweight and a BMI of over 30 indicates obesity. Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA). The prevalence of overweight and obesity is steadily incre

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/oa-treatments/weight-loss - 2025-04-05

Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications are sometimes necessary as an addition to first-line treatment. Although research is underway, there is currently no medication that can slow down, stop, or reverse the progress of osteoarthritis (OA). However, there are several painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications that provide temporary symptom relief. First-line treatment (information, exerc

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/oa-treatments/drugs-medications-oa - 2025-04-05

Assistive devices including mobility aids and ergonomic tools can make everyday life easier for people with osteoarthritis. For people suffering from, knee, hip, or hand osteoarthritis (OA), it may become increasingly difficult to carry out everyday tasks and activities. This difficulty can negatively impact a person’s quality of life. Luckily, a variety of mobility aids, orthopaedic aids, and erg

https://www.arthritisportal.lu.se/oa-treatments/assistive-devices - 2025-04-05