Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Pain. This is the main symptom of osteoarthritis, called mechanical, as it improves, or even disappears, at rest and gets worse with physical exercise or movements.

Deformity. In advanced cases there can be deformity and changes in the alignment of the joints.

Inflammation and accumulation of synovial fluid. Approximately one-third of patients have episodes of swelling and accumulation of synovial fluid within the joint, which is called a joint effusion. This is particularly common in the knee. The joint fluid of osteoarthritis contains few cells and is transparent and viscous.

Atrophy of the contiguous muscles. In advanced cases there is atrophy of the contiguous muscles that contribute to the stability of the joint. In these phases there may be different degrees of joint deformity with a limitation in mobility and the gradual loss of joint function.