Otherwise referred to as wear-and-tear arthritis, osteoarthritis or OA develops when the natural cushioning situated between the joints (cartilage) wears away.
The condition can cause the joints to rub more closely.
The rubbing can result to stiffness, pain, swelling, reduced movement ability, and in some cases, formation of bone spurs.
Osteoarthritis is considered one of the most common types of arthritis.
While OA can develop in young people, the likelihood of developing the condition is higher for those past the age of 45.
Compared to men, women are also more prone to osteoarthritis.
Risk Factors and Causes
Many cases of knee OA are attributed to age.
However, while it is possible that many individuals will experience some degree of osteoarthritis, several factors are believed to significantly increase the risk of the condition developing at an early age.
Some of the most common risk factors for OA include:
Weight
Excess weight can put unnecessary stress and strain on the knees.
Every extra pound can put as much as 3 to 4 pounds of weight on the knees.
Repetitive stress injuries
Individuals whose work entail repetitive activities (kneeling, lifting weights, squatting, etc.) that can cause stress to the joint are more prone to developing OA.
Heredity
Some individuals become more prone to knee osteoarthritis compared to others because of certain genetic mutations.
The condition can also be secondary to inherited abnormalities that affect the bones that surround the knee joint.
Different Stages of Knee Osteoarthritis
OA has 5 stages.
Stage 4 is assigned for severe cases while stage 0 is for healthy and normal knees.
Stage 0
In stage 0, there are no signs or indications of osteoarthritis evident in the knee joint.
The knee joint also functions without any impairment or pain.
Stage 1
Patients afflicted with stage 1 osteoarthritis are most likely to already have bone spur growths albeit very minor.
In essence, bone spurs are the boney growths that occur where the bones meet.
Fortunately, it is very unlikely for individuals with stage 1 osteoarthritis to experience any discomfort or pain as wear on the joint components is often very minimal.
Stage 2
Individuals with a “mild” degree of osteoarthritis are considered to have stage 2 OA.
X-ray results of patients with stage 2 OA may indicate greater bone spur growth but the cartilage size is most likely still considered healthy.
In stage 2 OA, no bone scraping or rubbing is likely to take place as the space between the bones is still considered normal.
There are also no noticeable changes in the joint motion as the level of synovial fluid present is still sufficient.
Stage 3
Those classified with “moderate” OA belong to stage 3.
In stage 3, a notable narrowing of space between the bones is also present.
The cartilage will also likely to already show some damage.
Those with stage 3 osteoarthritis will often experience pain when bending, running, walking, or kneeling.
Joint stiffness may also occur early in the mornings or when sitting for long periods.
Joint swelling might also occur after extended movement.
Stage 4
Patients with “severe” cases of knee OA are classified under stage 4.
Individuals with stage 4 knee osteoarthritis often experience discomfort and pain when walking or moving the joint.
This is also the stage where joint space is significant and the cartilage is almost gone completely.
Patients with stage 4 OA will often experience difficulty moving and severe joint stiffness.
In this stage, the synovial fluid has also been decreased significantly so it can no longer reduce the friction between the moving parts of the joint.
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