Although symptoms may not appear until later in life, articular cartilage problems are very common. Painful osteoarthritis develops when this smooth, gliding surface on the end of the bone has lost its cushioning, deformity develops, and bone rubs on bone. Damage may occur as the result of a sudden injury or wear and tear over many years. There are some people with damaged articular cartilage who display few symptoms and may not develop osteoarthritis until they are elderly.
The development of ostearthritis depends on several factors:
- The patient's age when the degeneration starts
- The patient's activity level and weight
- The presence of ligament damage
Articular cartilage problems can be particularly difficult to treat because the onset, while occasionally sudden, often occurs gradually and thus is not immediately detected.
To learn more click
here!
