Did you know that osteoarthritis is the most common of all arthritic conditions and affects more than 3 million US adults every year?

What is it? Osteoarthritis (OA) is a breakdown of cartilage, specifically hyaline cartilage, within joints. A joint is where two bones meet and at the ends of each of those bones is a special cushion of cartilage called articular cartilage or hyaline cartilage.

Here’s where the rubber really hits the road – articular cartilage has poor blood supply, so when it is injured, due to either poor mechanics or a traumatic injury, the chances of it recovering are very slim to nonexistent.

Recent studies have even found a relationship between inflammation and OA, suggesting that it’s more than just a mechanical cause.

OA sufferers report pain, stiffness, swelling and often have bone spurs or other joint issues at the affected joint. While knees, hips and low back are commonly affected, OA can also appear in the fingers, thumb, neck and large toe.

Keep OA and other joint issues at bay by ensuring your tissue and total body health. This includes maintaining a healthy and diverse movement practice, stretching, therapeutic self-massage and eating real, unprocessed foods.

Watch my latest episode of Anatomy with Alex (below) to learn:

• What arthritis is and what causes it
• Steps you can take to prevent the onset or further progression of osteoarthritis
• How a low-inflammatory diet can help with knee pain

Tune in every Wednesday at 3:15 pm PST on the AE Wellness Facebook Page for Anatomy with Alex, my weekly show where I teach you anatomy and physiology in ways that are relevant to you in your life so you can maximize your mobility and live pain-free in your body.

References:
Obesity and osteoarthritis: more complex than predicted!
11 Food Rules For The Ultimate Anti-Inflammatory Diet