Take Control of Osteoarthritis

Osteoart osteoarthritis hritis (OA), also called osteoarthroses or degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis. OA is a chronic condition characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. The breakdown of cartilage causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint.

Learn more facts about osteoarthritis.

Find out how to manage your pain.

Get news about arthritis care, prevention tips, medications and supplements, success stories and more.
See what you need to know about joint surgery before, during and after surgery.

Wondering if You Have Arthritis?

osteoarthritis Find out if you are at risk of getting arthritis and how healthy your joints are by taking a couple of quizzes to assess your risk and your symptoms. Your scores can help you determine what action you should take.

Arm Yourself With Information

Learn more about osteoarthritis, and other forms of arthritis, in the Disease Center.

Move your body. Exercise protects your joints by strengthening the muscles around them. The Arthritis Foundation can help you get started in an exercise program with its Life Improvement Series.

See the latest in osteoarthritis research, including OA 15 Years After ACL Tear and Meniscus Repair After Injury.

Get the information you need to feel great. Don’t miss 40 FREE exercise videos to stay limber and feel great, a Lab Test Guide to help you communicate with your doctor, and the latest information about osteoarthritis.

Order the free osteoarthritis brochure, exercise brochure and Arthritis in African Americans brochure.

Learn how to have Good Living with Osteoarthritis and get Tips for Good Living with Arthritis.

Find out how to Change Your Life.
Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Guide for Adults is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Osteoarthritis in the News

ATLANTA, Feb. 19, 2009 – A new study released today found blacks remain less likely than whites to undergo total knee replacement, an important intervention for reducing pain and improving physical function among those with disabling knee osteoarthritis. The study also found total knee replacements are increasing substantially in both populations. Read more.

December 15, 2008 - Read the latest recommendations by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons on the treatment of osteoarthritis.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2008 -- Stories from the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting

In people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), those who are obese are more likely to develop advanced, end-stage disease than those who are of healthy weight...read more

Having flat feet is associated with an increased prevalence of knee pain and cartilage damage in older adults...read more

On Monday, September 29, 2008, USA Today published a column on Osteoarthritis Solutions: Good News for Bad Knees. Dr. Patience White, the Arthritis Foundation's Chief Public Health Officer discusses some of those solutions in the article. Read the full article.

On Thursday, September 11, 2008, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study on arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, currently affects 27 million of the 46 million people in the United States with arthritis. In addition, one in two Americans are at risk for knee osteoarthritis over their lifetime.

Atlanta, September 3, 2008- A landmark government study suggests nearly one in two people (45.5%) will develop knee osteoarthritis by age 85, with the highest risk among those who are obese or have a history of a knee injury. According to the Arthritis Foundation, the study underscores the immediate need for the public to understand what they can do to reduce the tremendous pain, disability and cost associated with arthritis. Read the full press release.

Read more about the study, read an interview with the study's author, learn about how the study was done, and find out more about the study participants.