Osteoarthritis normally arises when soft tissue between bones wears away. The synovium can thicken and become inflamed, while the cartilage gets thinner and grainier. New bone growth and bone spurs can occur, impinging on movement. Osteoarthritis can also arise from a joint injury, or as secondary arthritis, triggered by rheumatoid arthritis or gout.7,9

Associated with increasing age, osteoarthritis severity can vary in nature and intensity over time and in different joints, but is most problematic in hips, knees, fingers, big toes, and the spine.