Wei Laboratories, Inc.
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What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more
joints. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases, and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. The
weak cartilage causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint.
The most often affected are the joints of the fingers, the base of the thumb, hips, knees, neck (cervical spine), and the
lower back (lumbar spine).
Symptoms
The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain in the affected joints after repetitive use. Symptoms of
osteoarthritis vary greatly from patient to patient. Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time.
Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
• Pain.
• Tenderness
• Stiffness
• Loss of flexibility
• Grating sensation
• Bone spurs
Causes
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints deteriorates over time. The
smooth surface of the cartilage becomes rough, causing irritation. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely,
you may be left with bone rubbing on bone causing the ends of your bones to become damaged and your joints to
become painful. In most cases there are combination of factors, including:
• The aging process
• Joint injury or stress
• Heredity
• Muscle weakness
• Obesity
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.
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.
Western Medicine Treatment
• Rest (relief from stress on joints)
• Diet control with weight reduction
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Analgesics
• Pain relievers
• Physical Therapy
• Surgery
Alternative Medicine
There is a significant progress using alternative medicine in this area.
If you want a referral of an expert alternative medicine practitioner in your
local area, please use our free referral service by calling our toll-free at
1-888-919-1188, or e-mail us to wei@weilab.com, or click the button
at the right to have us contact you.
Information gathered from the Mayo Clinic, medicinenet.com and nlm.nih.gov
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more
joints. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases, and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. The
weak cartilage causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint.
The most often affected are the joints of the fingers, the base of the thumb, hips, knees, neck (cervical spine), and the
lower back (lumbar spine).
Symptoms
The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain in the affected joints after repetitive use. Symptoms of
osteoarthritis vary greatly from patient to patient. Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time.
Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
• Pain.
• Tenderness
• Stiffness
• Loss of flexibility
• Grating sensation
• Bone spurs
Causes
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints deteriorates over time. The
smooth surface of the cartilage becomes rough, causing irritation. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely,
you may be left with bone rubbing on bone causing the ends of your bones to become damaged and your joints to
become painful. In most cases there are combination of factors, including:
• The aging process
• Joint injury or stress
• Heredity
• Muscle weakness
• Obesity
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.
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.
Western Medicine Treatment
• Rest (relief from stress on joints)
• Diet control with weight reduction
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Analgesics
• Pain relievers
• Physical Therapy
• Surgery
Alternative Medicine
There is a significant progress using alternative medicine in this area.
If you want a referral of an expert alternative medicine practitioner in your
local area, please use our free referral service by calling our toll-free at
1-888-919-1188, or e-mail us to wei@weilab.com, or click the button
at the right to have us contact you.
Information gathered from the Mayo Clinic, medicinenet.com and nlm.nih.gov
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