Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a "cushion" between the bones of the joints. Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative arthritis. Among the over 100 different types of arthritis conditions, osteoarthritis is the most common, affecting over 20 million people in the United States. Osteoarthritis occurs more frequently as we age. Before age 45, osteoarthritis occurs more frequently in males. After age 55 years, it occurs more frequently in females. In the United States, all races appear equally affected. A higher incidence of osteoarthritis exists in the Japanese population, while South African blacks, East Indians, and Southern Chinese have lower rates.
http://www.medicinenet.com/osteoarthritis/article.htmbumping this upReal information is better than spam..Are the spammers being told to stop spamming...that would be pricelessbumpHate spammers and their spam!IT also strikes people younger than 55, but not as often. Sometimes injuries from contact sports or accidents can cause arthritis to happen at an earlier age. But not all of us younger folks led a sporting life. I'm 46 and getting both hips replaced -- one inext week and the other by the end of the year. And I didn't take up running until I was 43. My father-in-law, who has run marathons since he was a teen, didn't start getting arthritis until he was in his mid-70s, but it's not bad enough to stop him from running... my mother-in-law who was a professional dancer is still as nimble as ever at 76. I don't think anyone really knows why the cartilage begins to wear down faster in some than in others. I hope more research is carried out on osteoarthritis to find out its trigger mechanisms and hopefully how to catch it before it's debilitating and to stop it.