Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis: similarities and differences

Abstract

Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are two different medical conditions, which beside the first part of their name „osteo“, have very little in common. Osteoporosis is a disorder which influences bones in terms of reduction of quality and quantity, which can easily result in bone fracture. Clinical signs of osteoporosis show no pain or other symptoms which could point to changes in bone structure, unless a bone fracture is diagnosed. Osteoarthritis is a disease which influences joints and its surrounding tissues. Seeing through clinical signs, changes could be verifi ed in terms of pain and limitations of movement and the cause of pain and way of its treatment are numerous. A person can suffer from osteoporosis and osteoarthritis at the same time. Although these medical conditions are more frequent in female than in male population, mechanisms which lead to them may interfere. Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are muscular-bone disorders with signifi cant morbidity and mortality, but clinical experiences and epidemiological studies have shown their negative correlation.