Osteoarthritis (OA) Theme Week!

OA is the most common joint disorder worldwide; it affects 1 in 10 Canadians.
OA affects men and women equally.
It can occur at any age (average age of diagnosis is 65)
7 years = typical time from symptom onset to diagnosis
OA is a degenerative disease, characterized by joint pain, tenderness, local inflammation, muscles weakness, movement limitation or compensatory functional movements
X-ray changes unrelated to symptoms
In a healthy joint, there is a balance between the regeneration and degeneration of the joint. When the degeneration surpasses the regeneration, OA occurs.
Weak muscles, or living a sedentary life, can lead to OA because muscles help absorb shock and protect joints.
OA has previously been described as “wear and tear” of the joint. This statement is misleading, as cartilage requires ongoing movement and healthy loads to regenerate.
Cartilage can be thought of as a sponge. When load is applied, for instance when walking, fluid gets squeezed out into the joint capsule. When loads are removed, the ca