Chronic Disorders

What is OA? At the end of every bone is an area of articular cartilage. The role of this cartilage is to decrease friction when a joint moves, allowing smooth, gliding movement. Within OA however, this articular cartilage is degraded due to enzymes in the surrounding tissues breaking it down. This results in more friction … Read more

What is arthritis? Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. It causes pain and usually also limits movement of the joints that are affected. There are many kinds of arthritis. A type called osteoarthritis (also called degenerative joint disease) is the most common. What causes osteoarthritis? The exact cause isn’t known. A person may be at … Read more