Osteoarthritis Overview

Reviewed by Greg Jaroszynski MD, FRCSC | Last updated May 2026

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It can cause joint pain, stiffness, swelling, loss of motion, and difficulty with walking, stairs, work, sleep, recreation, and other activities of daily living.

Purpose of this section

This section explains what osteoarthritis is, why it develops, how common it is, and how treatment is approached. The goal is to help patients understand the condition and make informed decisions about non-surgical and surgical care.

What this section covers