Osteoarthritis (OA) Also known as degenerative arthritis and non inflammatory arthritis is one of the more common types of arthritis. Affecting cartilage and bone in the joint … s. Cartilage cushions the ends of bones and serves as a surface that that provides very little friction where the bones meet to form a joint.steoarthritis is another name for degenerative joint disease.    Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting  millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective  cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time.