In "Sans Rendez-vous" on Europe 1, Doctor Jimmy Mohamed takes stock of osteoarthritis, this disease which affects the joints of 9 to 10 million French people.

Often disabling, it is sometimes accompanied by "inflammatory attacks" and "deformities of the joints".

It affects 9 to 10 million French people and is even the first cause of consultation after cardiovascular diseases in developed countries.

However, osteoarthritis is relatively unknown to the general public.

In "Sans Rendez-vous", Charlotte, a listener from Europe 1, asks Doctor Jimmy Mohamed to tell her a little more about this pathology which generally affects "the spine, knees, ankles, hands, hips and shoulders ". 

>> Find all of Sans rendez-vous in replay and podcast here

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis? 

The easiest manifestation to detect is pain which is most often "mechanical", says Jimmy Mohamed.

That is to say, it "increases in movement and disappears if you rest, except in cases of inflammatory outbreak".

This pain can "appear in the morning when you jump out of bed, we then speak of pain of derusting".

Osteoarthritis gradually causes discomfort to perform certain movements, swelling can also occur in the affected joint.

The latter is linked "to the excessive production of synovial fluid in reaction to the damage to the cartilage".

Deformities of the joints can also appear.

What are the causes ?

"We do not yet know the exact causes of osteoarthritis, but certain risk factors have been identified: overweight, obesity, diabetes, genetics ..." What is certain is that "the risk of suffering from osteoarthritis increases with age because the cartilage weakens over time. "

How is osteoarthritis treated? 

By taking analgesics and / or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Local anti-inflammatory drugs, in ointment, gel or patch, can also be prescribed, "especially for small joints", specifies Jimmy Mohamed.

It is also possible to use intra-articular injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid.

But the duration of the cure should be as short as possible.

For some cases, such as osteoarthritis of the knee or hip, surgery may be performed. 

But there is also a non-drug management, indicates the doctor.

"Physiotherapy sessions, but also, we cannot repeat it enough, regular and adapted physical activity."

Far from being an option, playing sports is even "a treatment in its own right".