Research Paper on:
Etiology of Osteoarthritis

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
be characterized by the loss of focal cartilage and reparative bone response (Toyoshima et al, 2000). As the cartilage wears down it can wear away in an uneven manner,  until it has completely disappeared, at the same time as this the joint capsule responses by becoming thicker and producing more of the synovial fluid; the joint lubricating fluid (Rees  and Pillinger, 2001). The disease may be recognized radiographicly by the narrowing of the joint space and the bony spurs which may  occur and cause swelling in the surrounding tissue (Rees and Pillinger, 2001, Toyoshima et al, 2000). There are two types of Osteoarthritis (OA).  Primary OA; this can be seen as the wear and tear version of the disease, and is usually found in joints other than the shoulders and other MPC joints (Toyoshima  et al, 2000). This is mostly found in the knees hips fingers and spine (Rees and Pillinger, 2001) Secondary OA may be found  in normally unaffected joints such as the shoulders and MCP joints, additionally it may be the symptom, or associated with a secondary cause such as chondrocalcinosis (Toyoshima et al, 2000).  There are numerous symptoms, not all of which will present in their entirety with each case. The joints will ache and be stiff,  a period of movement may improve their condition, but only in the short term until the joints stiffen up again. There is often backache and the patient will suffer form  limited mobility due to the problems of stiffness and associated pain. The joints may also swell as a result of the excessive synovial fluid or the growth of bony spurs.