Osteoarthritis and Articular Cartilage: Biomechanics and Novel Treatment Paradigms

Background: Osteoarthritis is a widespread highly painful disabling age-related disease with no known cure. Although novel strategies for ameliorating osteoarthritic damage abound, it is likely that none will be successful over time if the entire spectrum of the disease and the effects of joint biomechanics on joint tissues are not carefully considered. Objectives: 1) To detail the structure of healthy articular cartilage, the key tissue affected by osteoarthritis. 2) To detail what aspects of cartilage damage best characterize osteoarthritis. 3) To consider the role of biomechanical factors in developing solutions to treat osteoarthritic joint damage. Methods: Literature sources from 1980 onwards that have contributed to our knowledge of the topics relevant to this paper were accessed and retrieved. The data were categorized into four predominant themes and conclusions about the state of our knowledge and future directives were formulated. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis prevalence remains high, and a cure appears elusive. A rich body of data has helped us to better understand the key tissue involved, and suggests a repair process might be feasible, if the basic collective information on the role of biomechanics in mediating or moderating articular cartilage integrity and function is forthcomin