Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is generally characterized by a slowly progressive degeneration of articular cartilage, particularly in the weight-bearing joints. It has a stronger prevalence in women, and its incidence increases with age. OA is a major and growing health concern in developed countries, owing to steadily increasing life expectancy and the demand for better quality of life. Because of its chronic nature and nonfatal outcome, OA affects the growing population of the elderly over an increasing time span. Moreover, despite its relatively benign character, OA is one of the most disabling diseases; it is responsible for increasing financial and social burdens in terms of medical treatments, forced inactivity, loss of mobility, and dependence. Despite a growing awareness of OA as a medical problem that has yet to reach its maximum impact on society, there is a surprising absence of effective medical treatments beyond pain control and surgery. So far, only symptom-modifying drugs are available, while there remains a major demand for disease-modifying treatments of proven clinical efficacy. This demand will hopefully be met in the future by some of the drugs that have been pressed into development and are now at different stages of clinical investigation. Nevertheless, the current lack of effective treatments reflects a still insufficient knowledge of cartilage with respect to its metabolism, interactions with other joint tissues, and causes and mechanisms (possibly of very different nature) leading to failure of its turnover.

Musculoskeletal diseases are rapidly becoming a major health concern. The incidence of osteoarthritis, the most common arthritic disorder, is increasing steadily due to the graying of the world population. This disease is responsible of human life, a time in for significant morbidity, particularly in the second half which the quality of life is of primary importance. The aim of this publication is to bring to physicians and scientists a comprehensive overview of the field, from molecules to men. The direct costs related to osteoarthritis have been increasing steadily over the years and will soon be comparable to those of other major illnesses, such as cardiovascular diseases. This, of course, does not take into account all of the other costs related to the disease which often cannot be simply calculated in dollars and cents. There has been a great deal of renewed interest in osteoarthritis in the last few decades. This has been brought on by the need to improve our knowledge of all aspects of the disease, especially with regard to its etiopathogenesis and treatment. The most recent findings and developments on the structural, bio chemical, biomechanical and molecular changes observed in clinical and ex perimental osteoarthritis are presented in this book.

This Atlas provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the historical and current perspectives on osteoarthritis, including the pathophysiology and epidemiology of the disease. Written by leading authors in the field of osteoarthritis, the book discusses classification, etiology and risk factors for osteoarthritis, the disease course and determinants of osteoarthritis progression, clinical features and diagnosis as well as imaging methods to assess joint damage. The Atlas of Osteoarthritis concludes with the latest treatment updates including both nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatments, as well as surgical recommendations for patients with the disease. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease causing joint pain, stiffness, and physical disability among adults. It is an important issue for both the individual and society with its impact on public health continuing to grow as a result of the aging population, the rising prevalence of obesity, and the lack of definitive treatments to prevent or halt the progress of the disease.

An authoritative investigation of the sources andtreatment of osteoarthritic joint pain Millions of people throughout the world suffer from osteoarthritis (OA)—a medical condition causing its sufferers excruciating pain that is often disabling. This is the first book to offer clinicians an in-depth understanding of the biological sources of osteoarthritic pain and how they can be treated. Here, a team of leading international authorities has contributed state-of-the-art information on: The Neuroscience of Articular Pain—spinal and peripheral mechanisms of joint pain; experimental models for the study of osteoarthritic pain; inflammatory mediators and nociception in arthritis; phantoms in rheumatology; and more Osteoarthritis and Pain—joint mechanisms and neuromuscular aspects of OA; bone pain and pressure in OA joints; structural correlates of OA pain; and more Treatment of Osteoarthritic Pain—general approaches to treatment; treatments targeting pain receptors; treatments targeting biomechanical abnormalities; and treatments targeting inflammation Whether you're a medical professional, researcher, student, or a generalist or specialist focusing on pain or arthritis, this is your one-stop reference for understanding and treating joint pain in osteoarthritis.

This volume addresses the nature of the most common form of arthritis in humans. If osteoarthritis is inevitable (only premature death prevents all of us from being afflicted), it seems essential to facilitate its recognition, prevention, options, and indications for treatment. Progress in understanding this disease has occurred with recognition that it is not simply a degenerative joint disease. Causative factors, such as joint malalignment, ligamentous abnormalities, overuse, and biomechanical and metabolic factors have been recognized as amenable to intervention; genetic factors, less so; with metabolic diseases, intermediate. Its diagnosis is based on recognition of overgrowth of bone at joint margins. This contrasts with overgrowth of bone at vertebral margins, which is not a symptomatic phenomenon and has been renamed spondylosis deformans. Osteoarthritis describes an abnormality of joints, but the severity does not necessarily produce pain. The patient and his/her symptoms need to be treated, not the x-ray.

The molecular and cellular approaches to the relationship of joint and bone problems distinguish this from other books on the topic. Advances in bone and joint biology enable practitioners to approach clinical problems more comprehensively. Emphasis on genetics and on newer viewpoints and approaches, exemplified by the possible effect of subchondral bone on osteoarthritis, gives a wider viewpoint to the reader and may enable novel approaches to solving a clinical problem.