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Osteoarthritis Arthritis (OA) is one of the oldest and most common forms of arthritis. Known as the “wear-and-tear” kind of arthritis, OA is a chronic condition characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of the bones and allows easy movement of joints. The breakdown of cartilage causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint.
Osteoarthritis is known by many different names, including degenerative joint disease, ostoarthrosis, hypertrophic arthritis and degenerative arthritis.
Many different factors may play a role in whether or not you get OA, including age, obesity, injury or overuse and genetics.
There are several stages of osteoarthritis:
- Cartilage loses elasticity and is more easily damaged by injury or use.
- Wear of cartilage causes changes to underlying bone. The bone thickens and cysts may occur under the cartilage. Bony growths, called spurs or osteophytes, develop near the end of the bone at the affected joint.
- Bits of bone or cartilage float loosely in the joint space.
- The joint lining, or the synovium, becomes inflamed due to cartilage breakdown causing cytokines (inflammation proteins) and enzymes that damage cartilage further.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disease, mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining, or synovium, of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progresses in three stages. The first stage is the swelling of the synovial lining, causing pain, warmth, stiffness, redness and swelling around the joint. Second is the rapid division and growth of cells, or pannus, which causes the synovium to thicken. In the third stage, the inflamed cells release enzymes that may digest bone and cartilage, often causing the involved joint to lose its shape and alignment, more pain, and loss of movement.
Because it is a chronic disease, RA continues indefinitely and may not go away. Frequent flares in disease activity can occur. RA is a systemic disease, which means it can affect other organs in the body.
Patients with Arthritis may experience: |
Products that may help patients with Arthritis: |
∙Joint Pain |
∙Rollator/Walker |
∙Joint Stiffness |
∙Cane |
∙Limited Mobility |
∙Wheelchair/Transport Chair |
∙Unsteady Gait |
∙Hospital Bed |
∙Swelling |
∙Commode/Elevated Toilet Seat |
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∙Bath Safety Rail |
Possible affected areas: |
∙Toilet Safety Rail |
∙Back ∙Shoulders ∙Hips |
∙Bath Bench |
∙Knees ∙Wrists ∙Hands |
∙Lift Chair |
∙Elbows ∙Neck ∙Ankles |
∙Hip Kit |
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∙Pedlar |
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