Page 5 - Osteoarthritis

and in between the fibers. The fibers provide

structure and hold the water molecules in place.

The water molecules in turn provide cushion and

resistance to compression, protecting the bone.

It is necessary to understand this structure in

order to understand how the cartilage works and

what can happen to it to cause arthritis. If the fibers

are damaged or decreased, they are less capable of

holding water and serve less well as a cushion.

When we overuse a tissue, it can become damaged.

In this case the fibers inside the cartilage become

damaged. This makes the tissue as a whole less

strong and durable so that the next time it is placed

under stress or overused, it is more likely to be

damaged further. With time, this cartilage can

become so damaged that it is no longer present in

certain areas between the bones.

Another factor that contributes to the

degradation of cartilage is the fact that it is

avascular. This means that there are no blood

vessels inside of the cartilage. In order to repair

any damage done to the cartilage, raw materials

need to be brought in to replace the damaged tissue.

These raw materials are brought via the blood