Hand OA - Osteoarthritis is not an inflammatory condition?

Did you know that osteoarthritis (OA) is not an inflammatory condition? Although “-it is” in medical terms often means inflammation, osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, is simply a degenerative condition without any inflammatory marker involved.

I’m sure most of you know someone who has knee or hip OA. But did you know that hand OA is also a very common condition?

Hand OA is the degenerative condition of the cartilage in the joints of the fingers. The degenerative condition is caused by wear and tear such as repetitive hand or finger movements, or repetitive stress being put on the finger joints. Hand OA is associated with reduced range of motion and grip strength, pain, and joint stiffness. Hand OA can make a huge impact in our daily life because it can impair hand function.

If you would like to learn more about hand OA and its treatment option, stay tuned on Jenny Hong A1 Chinese Radio at 1pm on Monday (June 7) as Elli, a registered physiotherapist, would be answering all your questions regarding Hand OA!