The main symptom associated with osteoarthritis is stiff and painful joints. Most sufferers find that the stiffness is the worst in the morning, and severe stiffness will last less than 30 minutes. Moving the joint repeatedly can often help to alleviate the stiffness.

Stiffness and pain in the joints may cause a person to limp. They may find it increasingly difficult to go up and down stairs. Stiffness will also occur when the joints are exercised or used more often than normal. Relief will come upon cessation of the activity.