PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY, AND RISK OF OA
An understanding of the pathophysiology and epidemiology of OA is required to assess and manage risk
factors and implement preventive measures
The pathologic processes behind OA result in cartilage loss and bony changes in diarthrodial
joints (also called synovial joints), the freely movable
unions between bones that have hyaline cartilage on their articulating surfaces