Common Symptoms
Early arthritis can be recognized as stiffness when walking or moving in the hands and feet. The pain can be dull and hard to pinpoint to a specific area. It can lead to redness, inflammation and swelling of joints. Muscle weakness can lead to difficulty with balance and movement.
What it Feels Like
- Stiffness in the legs, feet, hands, knees, elbows
- Difficulty using feet and balancing
- Thick feeling in fingers, lack of grip strength
- Difficulty sitting for long periods
- Inability to squat or kneel
- Pain moving or lifting the arms and legs
- Pain using hands in a precise manner
Osteoarthritis (OA)
the most common chronic (long-lasting) joint condition.A joint is where two bones come together. The ends of these bones are covered with protective tissue called cartilage. With OA, this cartilage breaks down, causing the bones within the joint to rub together. This can cause pain, stiffness, and other symptoms.OA occurs most often in older people, although it can occur in adults of any age. OA is also called degenerative joint disease, degenerative arthritis, and wear-and-tear arthritis.A leading cause of disability, OA affects more than in the United States. Here’s everything you need to know about OA, from treatment to prevention and more.
Sources: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/link/a8c1f023696c4dfabcce24154e35344a.aspx
https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoarthritis