HESI Health Assessment Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that primarily affects the cartilage, leading to its breakdown over time. Characteristic of osteoarthritis is the involvement of joints in an asymmetric manner. This means that not all affected joints show the same symptoms or levels of deterioration; some may be significantly worse than others. For example, a person may experience osteoarthritis in one knee but have little to no issues in the other knee.

This asymmetrical pattern can be attributed to several factors such as previous injuries, genetic predisposition, or mechanical stress that may affect certain joints more than others during daily activities. In contrast, symmetric joint involvement is typically associated with other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, where the same joints on both sides of the body are affected equally.

Additionally, while limited range of motion and signs of excessive joint warmth can occur in osteoarthritis, they are not defining characteristics. Limited range of motion is a common outcome in many types of joint diseases, indicating overall joint dysfunction. Excessive warmth is more characteristic of inflammatory conditions rather than the typical degenerative nature of osteoarthritis.