primary osteoarthritis is mostly related to aging. with aging the water content of the cartilage increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. eventually cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses. in advanced cases there is a total loss of cartilage cushion between the bones of the joints. repetitive use of the worn joints over the years can irritate and inflame the cartilage causing joint pain and swelling. loss of the cartilage cushion causes friction between the bones leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility. inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths (spurs also referred to as osteophytes) to form around the joints. osteoarthritis occasionally can develop in multiple members of the same family implying a hereditary (genetic) basis for this condition. secondary osteoarthritis is caused by another disease or condition. conditions that can lead to secondary osteoarthritis include obesity repeated trauma or surgery to the joint structures abnormal joints at birth (congenital abnormalities) gout diabetes and other hormone disorders. obesity causes osteoarthritis by increasing the mechanical stress on the cartilage. in fact next to aging obesity is the most powerful risk factor for osteoarthritis of the knees. the early development of osteoarthritis of the knees among weight lifters is believed to be in part due to their high body weight. repeated trauma to joint tissues (ligaments bones and cartilage) is believed to lead to early osteoarthritis of the knees in soccer players. interestingly studies have not found an increased risk of osteoarthritis in long-distance runners. crystal deposits in the cartilage can cause cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis. uric acid crystals cause arthritis in gout while calcium pyrophosphate crystals cause arthritis in pseudogout. some people are born with abnormally formed joints (congenital abnormalities) that are vulnerable to mechanical wear causing early degeneration and loss of joint cartilage. osteoarthritis of the hip joints is commonly related to structural abnormalities of these joints that had been present since birth. hormone disturbances such as diabetes and growth hormone disorders are also associated with early cartilage wear and secondary osteoarthritis.
what causes osteoarthritis?