Cartilage is a living tissue that grows, breaks down and repairs itself, under normal circumstances. It can normally maintain an equal rate of decay and repair with the help of its only cell called "chondrocyte".   Chondrocytes and extracellular matrix (water, collagen and proteoglycans) form articular cartilage.

In osteoarthritis (OA), there is a complex connection between chondrocytes and the matrix. The matrix is degraded and normal development is inhibited, therefore altering the functions of our cartilage.

OA can be the cartilarge breakdown associated with the normal aging process or genetic predisposition.  Excessive biochemical stress such as obesity or overuse) can cause an imbalance in the decay and repair process. This imbalance damages the cartilage, creating cracks, tiny fissures, and elasticity and eventually develops osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis commonly occurs at hands, knee, hips and spines.

Currently there is no known cure for osteoarthritis, only symptom relief. Conventional treatment for osteoarthritis ideally aims to reduce pain and stiffness, improve the affected joint’s movement, and slow the progression of the disease.

Weight loss and exercise are the first steps in managing OA of knees. It is hoped that weight loss will reduce the amount of weight placed on the affected joints. Regular exercise such as walking, swimming, cycling, will help increase muscle strength, maintain joint flexibility and ease the pain.   Finally, drug treatments such as topical pain relievers, analgesics and NSAIDs, are usually offered to reduce joint pain and tenderness.  Intraarticular corticosteroid injections, if no too frequent injection (less than 4 time a year), is helpful for patients poor response to drugs treatment, particularly knee is inflamed and swollen.

A healthy knee joint usually contains less than 2 ml of synovial fluid, which partly consists of hyaluronic acid. The elastic properties of the hyaluronan lubricate and act like a shock absorber to the joint to prevent damage during activity.  In osteoarthritis, the synovial fluid within a joint loses its viscosity (stickiness) and its ability to lubricate and properly cushion the bones.