What is Knee Osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the knee, generally caused by damage to or the wearing down of articular cartilage. It happens when the cartilage in the knee joint breaks down, enabling the bones to rub together. The disease process usually begins before symptoms like pain, stiffness, and motion restriction appear.
What are the symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis?
Pain in the knee joint(s) that increases when active, but gets a little better with rest
Stiffness in the knee
Decrease in mobility of the knee
Knee joint creaking or crackling
Swelling in and around the knee
Feeling of warmth in the joint
Who is prone to Knee Osteoarthritis?
Most people develop knee osteoarthritis after the age of 45. But other factors such as injury or genetics can cause it to happen earlier also. Women are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis of the knee.
What causes Knee Osteoarthritis?
Amid several reasons, the following may be causes of knee osteoarthritis:
Excessive weight
Older age
Recent or old knee injury
Frequently putting stress on knee at job or playing sports, Athletes involved in soccer, tennis etc are at higher risk
Heredity
Deformed bones or joints
Other illnesses - People with rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic disorders etc are also more prone to Knee Osteoarthritis.