Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that primarily affects the cartilage, the protective tissue that cushions the ends of bones in a joint. It is not considered to be a contagious or infectious disease that can spread from one person to another.
However, osteoarthritis can affect multiple joints in the body, and in some cases, it can progress to affect adjacent joints. For example, if someone has osteoarthritis in the knee, it is possible that over time, the condition could also affect the hip or ankle joints on the same side of the body.
It is also possible for osteoarthritis to occur in joints that are not directly adjacent, due to changes in gait or joint mechanics. For example, if someone has osteoarthritis in their hip, they may start to walk differently to avoid putting pressure on the affected joint, which could eventually lead to osteoarthritis in the knee joint on the same side.
So while osteoarthritis itself cannot spread, it can affect multiple joints in the body, and the progression of the disease can be influenced by changes in joint mechanics or movement patterns.
