Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is a degenerative joint disease that mostly affects the cartilage (the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint). Healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over one another and absorbs energy from the shock of physical movement. In osteoarthritis, the surface layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away, causing the bones under the cartilage to rub together, and produce pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint. Over time, the joint may lose its normal shape. Osteoarthritis is one of the most frequent causes of physical disability among adults. In fact, by age 65, more than half of the population has x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis in at least one joint.

Osteoarthritis affects each person differently. While joint pain and limited movement are common, the progression of the disease and severity of symptoms may vary. The causes are not yet known, but a combination of factors in the body and in the environment is suspected. Also, diet, weight, and stresses on the joints affect the disease and how a person reacts to it.

Since there may be other scientific evidence that is not reported in the major U.S. biomedical databases, this list of treatments cannot be considered comprehensive.