Osteoarthritis is a joint disease also known as degenerative joint disease. There are many factors that can cause osteoarthritis although age is a risk factor. Research has shown that osteoarthritis is not an inevitable part of ageing. Obesity may lead to osteoarthritis of the knees. Sports injuries, accidental injuries may be at the increased risk of developing osteoarthritis. Pain in the affected joint or joints, swelling, warmth creaking of the affected joints. Symptoms of osteoarthritis vary greatly from patient to patient. Some patients can be debilitated by their symptoms. On the other hand, others may have remarkably few symptoms inspite of dramatic degeneration of the joints apparent on X-Rays. Symptoms also can be intermittent. It is not unusual for patients with osteoarthritis of the hands and knees to have years of pain-free intervals between symptoms.