Understanding OA of the knee3
OA of the knee causes slow, progressive damage to the cartilage, bone, joint
capsule, and surrounding muscles. The joint becomes painful, stiff, and weak,
causing constant pain and significant limitation in activities of daily living.
The pathologic process of OA has been well described, but why it starts and
how and why it progresses are unknown. Risk factors such as advanced age,
female gender, obesity, and genetics have been identified, but research is still
being done on how they contribute to OA.
OA of the knee may result from a complex interaction between modifiable
and nonmodifiable risk factors that stress the knee joint. Repair and regenerative
processes are overwhelmed and the knee is permanently damaged