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Osteoarthritis
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Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is more common in women than men. Signs of OA can range from morning stiffness and mild to moderate pain. The pain can come gradually through the day or come and go at different times making daily living difficult. The pain is located at the joints and the most common joints affected are the knees, hips, fingers, lower back, and neck.
In the fingers, people with OA commonly develop a condition called Heberden's nodes and Bouchard's nodes. These appear as knobbly bone growths in the joints of the finger at the end and middle part respectively.
 The causes of Osteoarthritis were commonly beleived to be part of getting old, but now doctors there are several factors that lead to a person developing the disease.
Genetics
People with a genetic defect that affects the Type II collagen have been linked to the onset of Osteoarthritis. Type II collagen is a major part of joint cartilage.
Joint Alignment
If the joints are not aligned property, the joints can wear down and cause Osteoarthritis. Some examples are bowed knees and shallow hips.
Joint Injuries and Overuse
If a joint has been injured and does not heal properly, the misalignment can cause excessive wear. Excessive use of a joint can also wear down a joint and lead to OA.
Obesity
Overweight people cause extra stress and wear on their joints. This is a major part of OA in the knees and hips of many people.
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