| Osteoarthritis is generally equated with a disease of | | | | especially in the quadriceps muscles. These are the |
| wear and tear and old age. Although it does usually | | | | four large muscles in the front of the thigh that enable |
| accompany old age, researchers have found that the | | | | the body to extend the knee. Researchers understand |
| cartilage in a joint with osteoarthritis is chemically | | | | that the arthritis creates a painful situation and patients |
| different than a joint without the disease. | | | | may not exercise, therefore decreasing their muscle |
| Researchers have also found that there are a series | | | | strength. However, they also theorize that the |
| of events that lead to the development of | | | | weakness, especially in the quadriceps, pre-dates the |
| Osteoarthritis and that it isn't associated with age | | | | development and actually causes the degeneration of |
| alone. These events involve the production, | | | | the joint. The stronger the muscle mass the better able |
| maintenance and breakdown of the cartilage in the | | | | the body is to protect the joints. |
| joints. These joints are often of the larger weight | | | | Anatomical reasons also are considered to be involved |
| bearing joints of the body such as the knees and hips, | | | | in the development of this arthritis. Research has found |
| which provide the majority of the cushion when we | | | | that people who are 'bow-legged' or 'knock-kneed' are |
| are doing any weight bearing exercise such as | | | | more likely to develop progressive osteoarthritis in the |
| walking, running etc. | | | | knees. Other research has found that some people |
| Athletes who also perform repetitive motion exercise | | | | are born with joints that don't meet smoothly and |
| that is weight bearing on a joint, such as rowing, will | | | | cartilage that isn't formed correctly. |
| find that Osteoarthritis also will develop in the elbow | | | | Injuries also play a large part in the joint changes that |
| and shoulder areas. | | | | lead to Osteoarthritis. People with knee injuries early in |
| Researchers believe that there is a genetic | | | | life were 16% more likely to develop arthritis in the |
| component to the development of the disease but | | | | affected knee than those without an injury. Other |
| they have not yet conclusively found that link. They | | | | medical conditions have also been found to play a part |
| have found that there is a higher correlation in the | | | | in the cause of Osteoarthritis. Hemophiliacs have the |
| development of this arthritis between parent and child | | | | potential to bleed into the joints causing damage to the |
| or siblings than between husband and wife. | | | | cartilage. People with chronic gout and pseudogout |
| In a study completed in 2000 a gene was identified | | | | have mineral deposits in the joints from the crystals |
| which was thought to regulate the production of a | | | | that cause the gout. People with rheumatoid arthritis |
| chemical, pyrophosphate, which inhibits the formation of | | | | already have joint damaging inflammation that injures |
| mineral deposits in the joints. They theorize that this | | | | to the cartilage. |
| chemical may protect the cartilage in the joints. About | | | | Although the causes of Osteoarthritis have not been |
| 60% of patients with Osteoarthritis were found to | | | | completely defined people can use the knowledge that |
| have mineral deposits in their joints. | | | | researchers now have to potentially delay the onset or |
| People with this disease also have muscle weakness, | | | | stop the development of this painful disease. |