In terms of your overall health, the knee is one of the most critical joints in your body. As the joint that bears the bulk of the body's weight, the knee must function properly. Having a knee that works properly guarantees that a person can stand up straight and be active and functional.

Sadly, osteoarthritis affects the knee joint more frequently than any other. Knee osteoarthritis affects a substantial percentage of the population.

According to research, osteoarthritis of the knee may be caused by a variety of factors. Osteoarthritis of the knee is frequently caused by obesity. An inherited tendency toward arthritis can also increase your disease risk. Serious knee traumas and infections can also trigger osteoarthritis of the knee.

Knee Osteoarthritis: A Quick Guide

OA is one of the most common forms of arthritis, and it is often misdiagnosed. Wear-and-tear arthritis is another name for it. Osteoarthritis of the knee hurts other joints in the body. The loss of natural joint cushioning and Cartilage is the cause of the discomfort.

A decrease in fluid and liquid cushioning between your joints causes the bones to come into closer and more frequent contact.

To keep your joints from grinding against one another, the natural fluid that serves as a shield is missing. Your joints hurt because of this. Bone stiffness and edoema are both possible side effects of repetitive bone rubbing. Even the tiniest movements can cause excruciating discomfort. Over time, this condition may also result in bone spurs.

For the most part, we see adults over the age of 45 developing knee osteoarthritis. Knee discomfort affects roughly three-quarters of persons with arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation. 

When Your Knee Cartilage Deteriorates

The condyles are at the top of the tibia and the bottom of the femur, which are big, rounded bone pieces. They rub against each other as you bend your knee.

In this region, there are two kinds of Cartilage:

1. Meniscal Between the tibia and femur, a thick Cartilage is laminated. Shock absorption is the primary function of the patellar tendon.
2. Articular Cartilage, which covers the ends of your condyles, is a smooth, slippery, but powerful soft tissue. Its role is to help reduce friction during knee flexion and extension.

Under your kneecap, you'll find a layer of articular Cartilage that aids in the smooth movement of your femur's anterior section. The knee's articular Cartilage is one of the early indicators of knee osteoarthritis. In contrast to articular Cartilage, the meniscus is not damaged by knee osteoarthritis in the same way as articular Cartilage is damaged by knee osteoarthritis.

Bones in the knee are altered

Osteoporosis occurs when the joint's articular Cartilage and soft tissues alter. X-rays and other types of medical imaging can show these kinds of alterations in the body. The following are a handful of the modifications that have occurred...

Subchondral Bone Sclerosis (SBS) occurs when the bone beneath the knee cartilage changes composition and hardens.

There may be growths in the knee joint called osteophytes (bone spurs). The spurs are not unpleasant, but they might cause the knee joint to inflate if there is too much friction.

It is called bone marrow lesions, or abnormal swelling and cyst formation in the bone marrow if the bone develops these abnormalities. Knee discomfort is a common side effect.

A knee joint can undergo its own set of alterations. Synovial membrane inflammation can occur around the arthritic knee joint, a thin, sensitive membrane that is susceptible to injury. Knee discomfort, edoema, and stiffness are possible side effects.

There are several cases of knee osteoarthritis. It's especially important to consume a nutritious diet rich in calcium if you have a family history of osteoarthritis, especially if you are still young. A cure is accessible, but prevention is always the best course of action.