In normal joints the cartilage, which is the soft tissue covering the surface of the bones, helps the bones move against each other freely. Osteoarthritis of the joints is a condition in which the cushions between the joints become worn and damaged, and may occur in any joint in the body.
What happens when a joint develops osteoarthritis is that the cartilage thins, hindering the movement of the joints. As people get older they may develop osteoarthritis in some of their joints. This may result in swelling and pain and restriction of mobility.
The treatment varies and may include medications to control symptoms, physiotherapy therapy, injection therapy and in some cases surgery.
