What is osteoarthritis? 

Articular cartilage is a type of connective tissue that allows two bones to glide against each other without friction. One component of articular cartilage is - Proteoglycans (aggrecan) – attracts water. Therefore, aggrecan can keep absorbing water until it swells. This is what gives articular cartilage the ability to withstand load. 

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the progressive loss of articular cartilage, which means that there is not much separating the two bones, which causes a lot of friction, causing inflammation and pain. 

The rubbing of the two bones eventually leads to polished ivory looking bone (bone eburnation) and bony growth at the edge of the joint (osteophytes). Articular cartilage flakes off, which incites an immune response, hence inflammation can occur. Also, there is a loss of aggrecan, which means the joint can no longer withstand the same loads. 

 
What is occurring on a cellular level? 

Chondrocytes are specialised cells that are responsible for maintaining healthy articular cartilage.  In healthy people Chondrocytes maintain a balance between breaking down old cartilage, and producing new cartilage. Certain things cause there to be more cartilage breakdown than new cartilage production. 

So, what are these certain things?

● A single traumatic event 

● Age 

● Sex (females > males)

● Joint injury 

● Genetics 

● Medications

● Obesity (load adaptation) 

● Neurological disorders 

● Mechanical stress

Our Ballarat Podiatrists see all types of lower limb osteoarthritis particularly knee, ankle, mid-foot, and big toe OA.

Book now and have a chat to one of our Ballarat Podiatrists about your arthritis symptoms today.