What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is wear and tear in the joint. The smooth cartilage that cushions the bone ends thins and roughens, the bone around the joint changes, and the joint becomes sore and stiff.
It is most common in the knees, hips, hands and spine. WHO estimates that about 528 million people worldwide lived with osteoarthritis in 2019 [1].
Why does it matter?
It limits the everyday things that make life feel normal: walking to the kopitiam, getting off the toilet, climbing into a car. It tends to ache after activity and feel stiff after rest, such as the first steps in the morning.
WHO lists exercise, weight management and education as the main ways to manage it, with joint replacement for severe damage [2]. So moving is not the problem; it is usually part of the treatment.
An everyday example in Ipoh
Auntie Siew lives in an old shophouse with a steep staircase. Her knees ache when she goes down to the wet market, and she has stopped using the squat toilet because getting up is hard.
We look at how she moves, strengthen the muscles around the knees and teach her to use the stairs with a rail and rests. We also suggest a raised toilet seat. Within a few weeks she can plan her market trip again.
Related terms and next steps
Read about knee osteoarthritis, hip osteoarthritis and knee pain. Our articles on weight loss and knee pain and arthritis myths answer common questions.
If you wonder about an operation, see surgery or physiotherapy for knee pain.