Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting nearly 27 million people in the United States alone. With those numbers, you'd think the public would be well educated about the causes and symptoms of osteoarthritis. Well, let's find out.
Take this osteoarthritis true/false quiz and find out how much you know about the joint disease.?
Osteoarthritis occurs when bone breaks down and wears away.
FALSE. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage -- the tissue that cushions the ends of the bones within the joints -- wears out.
Your chance of developing osteoarthritis increases with age.
TRUE. By age 65, half the population has x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis in at least one joint.
Researchers suspect that osteoarthritis is caused purely by environmental factors.
FALSE. Researchers believe that osteoarthritis is caused by a combination of factors including obesity, the aging process, joint injury, and athletic activities.
Joint injuries from sports, work-related activities, or accidents increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis.
TRUE. People with past joint injuries -- whether they're from sports, work-related activities, or accidents -- may be at increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.
As a tool for diagnosing osteoarthritis, x-rays are completely useless.
True
False
FALSE. X-rays are used to diagnose osteoarthritis, though they are usually combined with other methods. X-rays are limited in their capacity to reveal how much joint damage may have occurred, and they do not usually show osteoarthritis damage until significant cartilage loss has occurred.
Fever is a common symptom of osteoarthritis.
FALSE. Common signs of osteoarthritis include joint pain, stiffness after getting out of bed, and a crunching feeling or the sound of bone rubbing on bone. Fever is not a symptom of osteoarthritis.
There is no cure for osteoarthritis.
TRUE. Current treatments for osteoarthritis can relieve some of the pain and disability associated with the disease, but right now there is no cure.
Exercise can help a person with osteoarthritis.
TRUE. Exercise is one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis. It can improve mood and outlook, decrease joint pain, increase flexibility, and help you maintain a healthy weight. Ask your doctor or physical therapist what exercises are best for you.
Both heat and cold can be useful treatments for osteoarthritis.
TRUE. For temporary pain relief from osteoarthritis, you can use warm towels, hot packs, or a warm bath or shower. Cold packs are often used to reduce the inflammation of swollen joints.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis.
TRUE. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is the second-most common form.
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