What is osteoarthritis (OA)?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a long-term condition where your joints can become painful and stiff. This can limit your movement and ability to do things.

Osteoarthritis can affect one or more of your joints. The joints most often affected are your:

• knees
• hips
• hands and fingers
• spine
• feet

The whole joint and surrounding structures can be affected by osteoarthritis. This includes:

• cartilage
• bone
• synovial membrane (lining of the joint)
• synovial fluid (fluid in the joint)
• ligaments
• tendons
• muscles

How common is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is very common. It can develop at any age, but becomes more common as you get older. It's more common in females than males.

Osteoarthritis is not the same as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, which are both autoimmune conditions.

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis in the affected joints are:

• joint pain
• stiffness
• swelling (this can feel hard and bony)

Osteoarthritis can feel like a dull pain, but joint pain may get worse with activity and feel better with rest.

Symptoms may get worse slowly over time. Sometimes symptoms get worse suddenly. As it gets worse, the pain can happen even when you are resting.

Other symptoms can include:

• problems with moving your joints
• instability or difficulty walking
• clicking noises or grating sensations when moving a joint
• weakness of affected joints

Depending on which joints are affected, osteoarthritis can make it harder for you to:

• walk
• climb stairs
• stand from a sitting position
• do other daily activities

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What causes osteoarthritis?

The exact cause of osteoarthritis is not known. It is a complex disorder with many contributing factors.

Your risk of developing osteoarthritis increases as you get older. Other factors that increase your risk are:

• having family members with osteoarthritis
• being female
• living with overweight
• having had a previous injury to a joint, such as a dislocation
• doing a physically demanding job or activity that can lead to joint damage over time (such as heavy lifting or manual labour)

When should I see my doctor?

Speak to your doctor if you have:

• pain in your joints
• difficulty walking
• reduced mobility
• a grinding sensation or clicking in your joints

See your doctor if these symptoms impact your daily life or last for more than a few days.

How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine you to work out if you might have osteoarthritis. They can look at your range of motion and check signs of tenderness.

Tests are not usually needed to diagnose osteoarthritis. Your doctor might arrange tests if it's not clear what type of arthritis you have. Your doctor may refer you for an x-ray of the painful joint or joints.

How is osteoarthritis treated?

There is no cure for osteoarthritis. But many people can manage their symptoms well.

Treating joint pain and stiffness can help you manage your daily activities.

Healthcare professionals who can help with osteoarthritis include:

• your doctor
• a physiotherapist
• a dietitian
• a psychologist
• an occupational therapist
• a rheumatologist (specialist in joint problems)
• an orthopaedic surgeon (doctor who operates on joints)

The type of treatment recommended for you will depend on your symptoms and which joint or joints are affected. Your healthcare professional will be able to help you navigate this.

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Regular exercise

Regular exercise is important for people with osteoarthritis. It keeps your joints and muscles healthy and flexible and can help reduce pain.

People with, or at risk of, osteoarthritis may benefit from different types of exercise:

• Muscle stretches or yoga can help maintain or improve your flexibility.
• Muscle strengthening exercises with weights and resistance bands improve your muscle strength, which takes pressure off your joints, strengthens your bones and improves your balance.
• Activities like brisk walking, swimming or cycling can improve your general fitness.

It's a good idea to choose low impact activities that don't put a lot of stress on your joints.

Choose activities that you enjoy and are convenient for you to do. Talk to your physiotherapist or an exercise physiologist about how to start an exercise program that is right for you.

Healthy eating and weight loss

There is no diet that will cure osteoarthritis. A nutritious and balanced diet helps to keep you healthy and maintain strong muscles and bones.

Extra body weight increases stress on many joints — especially your knees, hips and lower back. If you live with overweight or obesity, losing weight can help reduce pain and limit further damage to your joints.

Special devices and footwear

Walking sticks can help to reduce the load on your hips and knees. This can reduce pain when you are moving about.

Sometimes people with knee osteoarthritis try:

• heat or cold packs
• taping the joint
• wearing a brace
• using shoe insoles that adjust how you stand and walk

The evidence is not clear on whether these help for osteoarthritis.

Ask your physiotherapist or an occupational therapist for advice about using aids or supports.

Pain management

It can help to learn how your osteoarthritis pain works and how you respond to it. A psychologist may be able to help you manage pain with cognitive behaviour therapy.

You can also try acupuncture for pain relief. If you are planning on having acupuncture, it's important to talk about this with your doctor.

Pain-relief medicines can include:

• paracetamol
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), which can be used as creams or gels you apply to the skin over your painful joint, or you take as tablets

Check with your doctor if these medicines are suitable for you and your type of osteoarthritis.

NSAIDs have potential side effects, such as:

• stomach ulcers and bleeding
• kidney problems
• heart problems

An injection of corticosteroid medicine into a painful joint can give you pain relief for a few weeks, depending on which joint is affected. This relief is only for a short period of time, and there is a limit to how many injections you can have.

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Surgery

If your symptoms affect your daily activities and can't be managed in other ways, your doctor may refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon.

There are several different types of surgery for osteoarthritis. Joint replacement surgery may be recommended for some people.

What are the complications of osteoarthritis?

Complications of osteoarthritis can include:

• poor sleep or mood due to pain
• restrictions performing daily tasks
• reduced ability to exercise
• a higher risk of falls in older people
• anxiety and depression

As osteoarthritis is a long-term condition, you may feel anxious, frustrated or upset about how it affects your life. Talk with a friend, your doctor or a psychologist if you need help and support.

Can osteoarthritis be prevented?

You can help reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis:

• Avoid joint injuries or overuse — a sports injury prevention program may help.
• Have rehabilitation for knee injuries.
• Do weight-bearing exercises to strengthen your joints.
• Maintain a healthy weight by eating a healthy diet and exercising.

Talk to your doctor or physiotherapist about how you can adjust your usual activities so they don't worsen your osteoarthritis.

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Resources and support

For more information on osteoarthritis:

• Visit the Arthritis Australia website for information about osteoarthritis and advice on living with arthritis and healthy eating and arthritis. You can also call Arthritis Australia on 1800 011 041.
• MyJointPain is a free app from Arthritis Australia to help you track your osteoarthritis and get long-term relief.
• Musculoskeletal Health Australia has information about osteoarthritis of the knee.
• If you have osteoarthritis of your knee, you can use this guide developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to help you discuss the main treatment options with your doctor.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For the management of osteoarthritis, Moving with Arthritis is a program to help people with joint pain to exercise in an appropriate manner.

Languages other than English

The Arthritis Australia website has information sheets in languages other than English.

If you need an interpreter, ask your doctor or call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Arthritis Australia has a program called Stay Moving Stay Strong with resources about arthritis.

Find an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) or affiliate near you.