Joint pain is one of the most prevalent health concerns associated with growing older, and millions of people worldwide experience it due to wear-and-tear, cartilage degeneration, ligament weakness and related causes. All these conditions combine to impede body functionality – though many believe pain they experience as part of getting older.
Aging can bring with it an array of complex biological, physiological, environmental, psychological and behavioral changes that impact all areas of the body; some changes may be beneficial while others detrimental. With age comes greater susceptibility and frequency of illness as well as decreased mobility and independence.
Arthritis, a common joint condition, occurs as the result of damage to the articular cartilage that cushions bones within joints (articular cartilage). As people age, their ligaments weaken further while their tendons and muscles shorten. As such, stiffness of the joints and loss of mobility often arise as symptoms. These changes often manifest themselves through pain that limits daily life activities – in extreme cases leading to severe disability.
Scientists are exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying osteoarthritis (OA), so treatment may be improved. One theory holds that cartilage deterioration is caused by chronic production of reactive oxygen species or free radicals within joint tissues; this oxidative stress could result in various pathological changes including collagen cleavage, reduced production and accumulation of amyloid.