Osteoarthritis, currently defined as degenerative joint disease, is essentially the long-term deterioration of the integrity of a joint, including the articular cartilage and bone surfaces.

In fact, the the name is not really accurate. The suffix '-itis' suggests that the joint is inflamed which is not, in fact, the case. So rather than labelling it as an inflammatory condition, it is better to think of it as a "degenerative joint disease" (DJD)

Clinical features of degenerative joint disease may include crepitus (grinding sound), pain, stiffness, and deformity. The stiffness associated with degenerative joint disease often goes through a "gelling" period. What this entails is stiffness upon waking from sleep then, as the person moves around, the stiffness begins to subside.

There are two main categories of degenerative joint disease: primary and secondary. Primary DJD means that the degeneration has no direct link to an incident of trauma or other disease process. The degeneration has an insidious onset. Secondary degenerative joint disease entails a known cause for the onset of the DJD. This may be the result of trauma or another disease process.

Some experts believe that the main cause of primary osteoarthritis is a problem with the movement of the joint - either too much or too little.

Having too much motion, such as can occur if the ligaments become overstretched, can result form poor posture or even chronic over-stretching of the joint, such as when people "pop" their knuckles repetitively.

This then causes excessive wear on the cartilage, rather like having a loose wheel on a vehicle. The cartilage gradually wears down, and develops a rough surface, which is what then causes that grinding sound (crepitus). Since the cartilage serves as a shock absorber for the joint, its gradual destruction means less protection for the joint, and so more damage occurs.

If a joint is moving too little, degenerative joint disease may set in due to a lack of nutrition to the internal components of the joint. Since there is no direct blood supply to the inside of a joint, the body relies on motion to allow a transfer of waste product and nutrition across the joint capsule.

Since lack of movement can prevent adequate nutrition at the joint face, most health care professionals recommend that you DON'T rest immobilize your joints (eg in traction) for extended periods of time unless absolutely necessary.

Which leads us the the best practice solution for preventing osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint diseases - regular and proper joint movement, achieved by rapid and effective treatment of injuries followed by regular exercise and stretching routines.

Proper exercise strengthens the muscles that support the joint, and so prevent aberrant motion. Stretching those muscles and, if necessary, getting the joint adjusted by a chiropractor, helps to maintain the motion that allows for proper transfer of nutrients and waste products inside the joint.

Although these steps may not eliminate the risk of degenerative joint disease, they will help to either delay its onset or slow the progression of the disease process.