Arthritis means inflammation of a joint and presents with pain, swelling difficulty in movement. Although arthritis is a broad term comprising more than 100 disorders, osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes cartilage on the ends of the bone to wear away, leading the bones to rub against each other. This cartilage degeneration usually happens with age, but sometimes mechanical stress, injury obesity can cause osteoarthritis to begin at a younger age, as well.

The 1st step in managing arthritis is educating the patient about the problem the natural course of the disease. At present, there is no way to ensure the regeneration of this worn-out cartilage; therefore, it is important to allay the anxiety apprehension that the patient has about what to expect set realistic goals for treatment. Patients need to be educated that the primary aim of treatment is controlling pain, preserving joint function mobility and improving quality of life.