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. Insufficient renewal of fundamental joint constituents

2. Overproduction of "metalloproteases", enzymes responsible for degrading joint constituents

3. Excessive cartilage degradation leading to local areas of erosion

4. Triggering the production of inflammatory signals which are at the origin of painful sensations. Unfortunately, these signals drive a vicious circle of increased degradation of cartilage constituents.