Understanding Primary and Secondary Osteoarthritis | Everyday Health

Achy, stiff joints brought on by osteoarthritis have been experienced by many millions of people for a very long time. Experts have found skeletons dating to the Ice Age that showsigns of osteoarthritis, the Arthritis Foundation says.

Today, doctors classify osteoarthritis by two types: primary or secondary. There’s not much of a difference in the way eachtype of osteoarthritisfeels, but there is a difference in what causes them.

Osteoarthritis: How It Develops

Before you developed osteoarthritis, you probably took it for granted that you could move your joints smoothly and without pain. But when the cartilage at the ends of the bones in your joints begins to break down, the joints don’t move as smoothly. Here’s what happens in osteoarthritis:

The breakdown of cartilage causes your bones to react in those areas, often by developing bone spurs, or growths.
The cartilage doesn’t stretch as well, and can be injured more easily because of it.
Your joints may become inflamed and swollen, which damages the cartilage even more.
When the bones touch without that protective cartilage in between, you’ll feel pain and have stiffness. You may notice that the joint can no longer be moved through a range of motions.

Osteoarthritis: Primary or Secondary?

The aforementioned chain of events happens in both primary andsecondary osteoarthritis. What’s different about the two types is the underlying cause for the cartilage breakdown in the first place.

Primary osteoarthritis.Considered “wear and tear” osteoarthritis, this type of osteoarthritis is more commonly diagnosed. Here's what experts know about primary osteoarthritis:

People tend to develop this type of osteoarthritis around age 55 or 60, says Yusuf Yazici, MD, arheumatologistat New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York.
It’s associated with aging — the longer you use the joints, the more likely you are to have this form of osteoarthritis.
Experts say that if we live long enough, we’ll all get this type of osteoarthritis to some extent, whether it’s very mild or more severe.

Secondary osteoarthritis.This type of osteoarthritis has a specific cause, such as an injury, an effect of obesity, genetics, inactivity, or other diseases. It tends to strike at an earlier age, around 45 or 50, Dr. Yazici says. Here are therisk factorsthat can lead to secondary osteoarthritis:

An injury:If you fracture a bone playing sports or in a car accident, you’re more likely to later develop osteoarthritis in that joint, and you’re more likely to experience osteoarthritis at a younger age than those who have primary osteoarthritis, Yazici says.
Obesity:“Obesity is a big factor,” Yazici says.Extra weightthat bears down on the joints day in and day out can cause the joint to wear away faster. According to the Arthritis Foundation, every extra pound you gain adds three pounds of pressure to your knees and six pounds ofpressure to your hips.
Inactivity.A sedentary lifestyle leads to weight gain, which can lead to osteoarthritis, Yazici says. Also, if you’re inactive, you have weaker muscles and tendons that surround the joint. Strong muscles help keep joints properly aligned and stable.Low-impact activitiessuch as walking and swimming are important for keeping those muscles and tendons strong, he says.
Genetics.你可能携带基因,把哟u at risk for osteoarthritis. In particular, experts have found that arthritis of the hands tends to have a genetic link among women.Osteoarthritis in the knee和臀部似乎也运行在家庭,Yazici说. “If your mother had it and your aunt had it, you’ll probably have it starting at about the same age,” he says.
Inflammation from other diseases.Diseases that cause inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can increase your risk of getting osteoarthritis later in life.

Whether you have primary or secondary osteoarthritis, thetreatmentis the same. What’s most important, though, is to avoid the risk factors for secondary osteoarthritis that are within your control. “Stay active to keep muscles and tendons stronger, and lose weight or maintain a healthy weight,” Yazici says.