How does OA affect people?

The joints most commonly affected are the fingertips, base of thumb, base of big toe, knees, hips, and also the neck and lower back.

Less frequently the wrists, elbows, shoulders and ankles are affected. When OA develops in one of these joints, there is usually a history of injury to the joint.

Many joints may be affected by OA but often loss of function and pain is confined to only one or two.

With increasing age however, loss of function due to OA may affect multiple joints. This is known as “Generalised OA” and may be associated with considerable functional restrictions.

OA usually arises without any specific identifiable cause, when it is termed ‘primary’.

In some cases there is an underlying cause, when it is termed ‘secondary’. Such cases usually involve damage or abnormal strain on the affected joint, for example:

• Fractures
• Perthe’s disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Skeletal deformities putting abnormal loading on joints
• Previous joint surgery (e.g. removal or repair of cartilage)