Cartilage is an imperative structural element that is a firm yet flexible tissue that covers the ends of the bones at a joint. The main function of the cartilage is to avert friction in the joints and also to act as a shock absorber. The cartilage tends to become rigid and lose its elasticity because of osteoarthritis and more vulnerable to damage. When the cartilage breaks down, the aptitude to act as shock absorber also reduces occasioning in ligament and tendon stretch, which causes pain. As time progresses, there is complete collapse of the cartilage and bones tend to scrub against each other initiating severe pain. Osteoarthritis frequently affects middle-aged and older folks and females are more susceptible than males. The joints most susceptible to osteoarthritis are the joints of the hands and also the weight-bearing joints such as hips, knees, and ankles and spine, but it can affect any joint. The discomfort gets worse with activity and gets improved with relaxation.

Causes

• Obesity: Being overweight puts enormous pressure on the weight-bearing joints such as spine, knees, and hips, which leads to breakdown of cartilage and chafing of bones against each other resultant in pain.
• Old age: As you age, the joints go through usual wear and tear occasioning in osteoarthritic pain.
• Injury: Injury to the joint because of accident or sports injury can result in osteoarthritis.
• Overuse of joints: When certain joints are overworked, osteoarthritis tends to develop in those joints.
• Genetics: Genes accountable for creation of cartilage might be defective in some occasioning in osteoarthritis.
• Bone deformities: Any malformation in the bone, joint deformity, or distortion in the cartilage can lead to osteoarthritis.

Treatment

Osteoarthritis cannot be treated and the effects cannot be retreated, but symptoms can be efficiently managed with medicines, lifestyle alterations, physical therapy and other therapies like osteoarthritis stem cell therapy in Delhi and surgery. A modified exercise program to fortify the muscles surrounding the affected joints and also upsurge range of motion and decrease of pain can be created with the assistance of a physical therapist or regular gentle workouts such as swimming, walking, jogging that can be done on our own have been effective in managing of osteoarthritis.