Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease in the United States, affecting 40 million people. Osteoarthritis may begin its course at an early age of 30's and 40's. By the time a patient is in his/her 50's and 60's, he/she may begin to feel the stiffness and the twinges in his/her hips and knees on a more regular basis as the disease surfaces. Despite its prevalence, the cause of osteoarthritis is not clearly known.

The end result of osteoarthritis is loss of cushion in hips and knees, which leads to pain and disability. A person with osteoarthritis usually complains of pain that worsens with activity. One may also notice swelling, stiffness, tenderness to touch, and even deformity. In advanced stages, pain may interfere with the simplest activity, even sleep.

A person can actually lower his/her risk of having osteoarthritis of hips and knees by weight loss, injury prevention, muscle strengthening, and task modification at work to prevent repetitive stress on the joints. However, once a person is diagnosed with osteoarthritis, the treatment options vary largely depending on the severity of the disease. These options include exercise therapy, use of a cane or crutch, prescription drugs, and total joint replacement.