Watch real knee surgery footage to see what arthritis looks like up close.

Diagnosis and treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, resulting from age-related degeneration of the soft cartilage lining between bones. As this layer breaks down, the normal smooth motion between bones is lost and the joint becomes painful.

Explore the basics of arthritis in this 1440 Original video with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nick Golinvaux.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is sometimes called 'wear and tear' arthritis, referring to age-related cartilage loss.

Arthritis is an umbrella term for various conditions that cause joint pain, including osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, posttraumatic arthritis, and septic (infectious) arthritis.

Visualizing a joint under attack from rheumatoid arthritis

A particularly difficult arthritis subtype is rheumatoid arthritis, a painful condition provoking a vicious cycle of joint inflammation, destruction, and dysfunction. It begins with a misfiring of the patient’s own immune system—for unknown reasons, it identifies joint and cartilage cells as foreign, initiating an attack to eliminate the supposed "invaders."

See the anatomy of a healthy knee joint, which has smooth cartilage that cushions the joints and protects the bones from rubbing together.

Breaking down the knee's anatomy

The human knee is a remarkably complex structure carrying the full weight of the body throughout a person's life while allowing a number of complex twists, flexes, and extensions. It's also one of the body's biggest weaknesses—the location of chronic pain and replacement surgeries for millions of Americans.

A human joint is any place in the human body where two bones connect, providing structure and stability.

Kangaroos evolved exceptionally thick knee cartilage to absorb shock, and scientists are studying the animals for potential insights about how to safeguard human knees against arthritis.

Limb regeneration research may lead to treatments for arthritis

For scientists pursuing the cure for arthritis, the holy grail of discoveries lies in how to regrow healthy cartilage inside human joints. While this feat has so far resisted our best scientific attempts, there are plenty of other human tissues—such as the liver and fingertips—that will successfully regenerate.

Five advancements in arthritis research

It is estimated that nearly 350 million people worldwide are currently suffering from arthritis. This resource explores five of the most promising recent advancements in arthritis research as scientists work towards improved treatments and continue the search for a cure.

There is no cure for arthritis, which includes more than 100 separate joint pain and stiffness conditions.

Arthritis affects almost 60 million Americans, with about 1 in 5 US adults developing this type of joint pain as they age.

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks cells within joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects about 1% of the population

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition leading to breakdown and inflammation of multiple joints throughout the body. This academic article provides an updated deep dive into our current cellular understanding of rheumatoid arthritis, how it is diagnosed, and the variety of medications available for treating this painful condition.

See what analysis of one man's amputated leg, donated to The Bone Museum, tells us about his otherwise invisible pain.

The collapse of gas bubbles in the joint synovial fluid causes 'cracking' knuckles.

Watch patient stories describing life with macular degeneration

This video series features patients discussing their experiences with the disorder, family members describing caregiving, and other insights about the disease.

Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir suffered from arthritis in the 1800s when there were no treatments, and eventually had such limited hand function that he painted with brushes placed in his mouth.

Researchers are investigating how altering the gut microbiome may influence the development of rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease.

Watch these fact checks of medical missteps in the show 'Grey's Anatomy'

This roughly 10-minute video seeks to highlight both medical and filming errors in the popular medical television show "Grey's Anatomy." Inaccurate medical moments in the show include mistakes in surgical procedures, wearing jewelry during surgery, and confusing cirrhosis—which is a scarring condition that damages the liver—with psoriasis, a skin condition.

Skull bone marrow may be playing a key role in chronic pain.

Dinosaurs suffered from cancer, arthritis, and infections seen in modern animals

Using CT scans and advanced pathology techniques, paleopathologists have identified respiratory illnesses, malignant osteosarcoma, and other diseases in dinosaurs. The research has helped show how many of these ailments are not exclusively modern phenomena.

An analysis on using VR to help train orthopedic surgeons

Virtual reality simulation provides surgical trainees with an immersive 3D experience that allows them to practice skills and operations in a safe yet realistic environment.

Tommy John surgery, which can save a pitcher's career, reconstructs a torn ligament in the inner side of the elbow that would otherwise stabilize the elbow during throws.

Explore the biology of pain and why the experience of pain may differ widely from one person to another.

An experimental bionic knee has been directly integrated into the user's muscle and bone—not an external socket—marking a significant prosthetic advancement.

Experience a century of America's healthcare advances with this medical visualization, tracing a sampling of healthcare innovations from head to toe.

This is what happens inside your body when you're sick

This video details the biology of what happens inside the human body during illness.

Check out a list of pitchers that received Tommy John surgery, an elbow procedure that can repair a pitcher's deteriorated arm.

Each part of the human body experiences aging differently

With global average life expectancy cresting at 73 years, understanding how the body ages is imperative to effective medical treatment and maintaining a desired quality of life. This 13-minute video dives into how the body and its organs age "from head to toe."

Addressing lifestyle factors, which influence inflammation, can cure some chronic diseases

In this video, a physician claims that he reversed a patient's Type 2 diabetes in six weeks by addressing inflammation drivers such as diet. More broadly, he argues that society needs to better consider and address numerous disease factors that are modulated by inflammation, such as stress, sleep, diet, and movement.

Listen to an amputee describe what it was like in the aftermath of his partial foot amputation and how his chronic, extreme pain fueled his depression and his decision to attempt to alleviate the pain with the radical surgery.

Watch this 2021 video demonstrating a full brain death examination

This video and accompanying article in the peer-reviewed New England Journal of Medicine show the then-standard steps of a full brain death examination—demonstrating the process on a medical dummy to search for pain, blinking, eye movement, cough, gagging, or other forms of responsiveness. (May need to sign up for a free account to view.)

Medical professionals have experimented with using mixed reality headsets

Devices like the Apple Vision Pro have helped doctors develop surgical plans for hip and knee replacements using software that provides 3D models and other tools. Virtual screens displayed by mixed reality devices can provide information related to surgical progress, a patient's vitals, and more.

Aging is a complex biological process affecting our cells, tissues, and organs.

See images of medical cases of firework injuries shared on this 'Instagram for doctors.' (Warning: Graphic images.)

See how cataracts—a leading cause of vision loss globally—form and how sound waves are often used to help remove them.

Aging results from the cumulative breakdown of cellular and tissue processes

A cumulative breakdown of cellular and tissue processes combines to result in decreased organ function, disrupting the systems driving normal human physiology. This five-minute video provides a primer on the subject, complete with a discussion of risk factors, cellular changes, and potential future treatments in the fight against aging.

Amputees must navigate the challenging medical and economic aspects of limb support and replacement, but advances in technology and research may reduce these costs.

See the differences between chickenpox and hand, foot, and mouth

This helpful explainer breaks down the differences between these two contagious, viral diseases, which both present with fevers and sores. It includes photos of the sores that are characteristic of both diseases, showing how they have appeared across different skin tones to better inform people looking for information about their own loved one's symptoms.

Searching for the history of cancer in ancient human bones

Nestled under archaeology lies bioarchaeology, which involves the study of bones, human or animal. This subfield recently birthed another field of study: paleo-oncology. Paleo-oncology looks for cancer and related biomarkers in bioarchaeological remains. This TED article explains how this nascent multidisciplinary field challenges the idea that cancer is modern.

Visualize the difference between a healthy brain and one with Alzheimer's.

Watch these Canadian doctors critique medical accuracy on television shows

Drs. Paul Zalzal and Brad Weening are orthopedic surgeons and members of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. In this episode, they discuss which television shows they think are the most medically accurate. "Grey's Anatomy" did not fare well in their review.

Inflammaging is chronic low-level inflammation as we age, and it may be a key disease driver

The term refers to the idea that largely invisible but consistent low-level inflammation as humans age fuels chronic diseases and cellular aging. Inflammaging, this article says, is due to lifestyle factors like poor sleep, low levels of activity, and poor diet, acting in concert to cause cellular damage and trigger inflammation.

A fictional glimpse into the future of AR

Hyper-Reality is a project that presents a provocative and kaleidoscopic new vision of the future, where physical and virtual realities have merged, and the city is saturated in media. Watch this six-minute video to experience the vision.

Hear about life as an amputee and how mirror box therapy helped.

Palliative care physician BJ Miller describes his phantom limb pain and itching after losing both legs and half an arm in an accident. Mirror box therapy eventually helped him, alongside physical therapy. This podcast also features neuroscientist VS Ramachandran who explains how he developed mirror box therapy in the 1990s.

What do archaeologists actually do?

Movies and other media show them digging a bit, maybe fighting off artifact smugglers, but what archaeologists actually do? Using a variety of tools and sciences, archaeologists are able to get a glimpse into humanity's past. This article explains what work is like for everyday archaeologists.

Watch this how-to video series on how to start strength training.

What it takes to become a professional jockey

This short documentary follows a young, amateur jockey through early mornings and exhaustive gym sessions, where she rides a simulator made to look like real horses. It's a peek into a highly specialized (and highly unusual) athletic pursuit.