
Osteoarthritis is a long-term disease that usually affects several joints in the body. Any joint can be affected, but the knees, hips, hands and the upper and lower back are the most common sites for arthritis pain. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the elderly. It is sometimes known as degenerative joint disease (or, in the back, degenerative disc disease(DDD). Persons with osteoarthritis often experience joint stiffness, swelling, and pain.











