What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It typically causes persistent joint pain and often makes daily activities difficult.

Osteoarthritis affects synovial joints. These are joints that move. Synovial joints are made up of soft tissue (ligaments, muscles and tendons), bone, cartilage and a fibrous joint capsule that surrounds the end of the bones. The joint capsule is filled with a thick liquid called synovial fluid. Osteoarthritis can affect any synovial joint. In the lower body, the knees and hips are commonly affected. In the upper body, the joints in the hand are commonly affected.

Osteoarthritis affects the whole joint including the ligaments, muscles, cartilage, and bone. Pain is the most common symptom, but osteoarthritis symptoms do vary a lot from person to person! Here are a range of common symptoms people with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis can experience.