The process of joint fragility

Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of the cartilage of the joints without any particular infection or inflammation. This degeneration leads to a more or less rapid destruction of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. 

It is the most common joint disease. The first symptoms usually appear from the age of 40-50, but the disease often starts much earlier in life.

Articular cartilage is a living tissue that is constantly renewed. It should be noted, however, that the natural capacity for regeneration remains low because the cartilage is not innervated. 

We can summarise the process of joint fragility leading to osteoarthritis in 4 points:

1. Renouvellement insuffisant des constituants fondamentaux des articulations

2. Surproduction des « métalloprotéases », enzymes responsables de la dégradation des constituants articulaires

3. Dégradation excessive du cartilage provoquant des zones locales d’érosion

4. Déclenchement de la production de signaux inflammatoires qui sont  à l’origine des sensations douloureuses. Malheureusement, ces signaux commandent un cercle vicieux de dégradation accrue des constituants du cartilage.