What is osteoarthritis? 

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It is a degenerative joint disease that causes the breakdown of cartilage, the cushioning tissue between bones in the joints.¹ 

• About 73% of people living with osteoarthritis are older than 55 years, and 60% are female² 
• With a prevalence of 365 million, the knee is the most frequently affected joint, followed by the hip and the hand ² 
• 344 million people living with osteoarthritis experience severity levels (moderate or severe) that could benefit from rehabilitation ² 
• The typical onset is in the late 40s to mid-50s, although osteoarthritis may also affect younger people, including athletes and people who sustain joint injury or trauma ² 

EARLY SIGNS³ 

• Joint pain, especially after activity 
• Stiffness, particularly in the morning or after inactivity 
• Tenderness around the joint 
• Loss of flexibility in the joint 
• Swelling around the joint 

RISK FACTORS⁴ 

• Older age 
• Sex 
• Obesity 
• Joint injuries 
• Repeated stress on the joint 
• Genetics 
• Bone deformities 
• Metabolic diseases 

REFERENCES 

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351930 
2. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/osteoarthritis 
3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351930 
4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351925