In the context of OA, which joint characteristic is most commonly observed during the morning?

In the context of osteoarthritis (OA), the characteristic most commonly observed during the morning is stiffness. This stiffness typically occurs due to prolonged immobility during the night, where the joints are not used or moved for several hours. Upon waking, individuals with OA often experience a feeling of tightness or difficulty moving the affected joint, which usually improves with movement over the course of the day.

This morning stiffness is a key clinical feature of OA and tends to last for a shorter duration compared to the stiffness seen in inflammatory types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, where morning stiffness may persist for hours. As a day progresses and the joints are used more actively, this stiffness generally diminishes. Other factors like increased swelling or visible bone deformities may occur in osteoarthritis, but they are not specifically tied to the characteristic awareness experienced immediately upon waking.