What is Osteoarthritis? Five million people in the UK are said to live with Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis is a group of mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of joints, including damage to the tissue between bones known as articular cartilage and subchondral bone. What are the Osteoarthritis symptoms? Symptoms may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, locking, and sometimes an effusion. When bone surfaces become less well protected by cartilage, bone may be exposed and damaged. As a result of decreased movement secondary to pain, regional muscles may atrophy, and ligaments may become more lax. While Osteoarthritis is very common in middle-aged and older people, up to two thirds of people suffering from osteoarthritis are of working age. And its symptoms can range from very mild to very severe. The disorder most often affects hands and weight-bearing joints such as knees, hips, feet and shoulders, b...