The type of arthritis that results from wear and tear over time or overuse of joints is osteoarthritis, which is also called degenerative joint disease and affects more than 30 million Americans. In osteoarthritis of the knee, bones rub directly against bone when cartilage, a connective tissue that provides cushioning and shock absorption within joints, wears away. Other common forms of arthritis that affect the knees are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which are autoimmune conditions that cause widespread joint inflammation and other systemic symptoms throughout the body....

Bryant says its too early to decide whether or not he’ll return for another season or hang up his sneakers when this one is over. PHOTOS: NBA Cheerleaders 2015 | MORE: LeBron James in jeopardy of missing time “If you asked me today, this would be my last year,” Bryant said, via ESPN.com told. “But you never know. We’ll keep it open. Whatever happens, happens.” The 37-year-old is in the final year of his deal with the Lakers....

Bryant – then mostly guarded by Raja Bell, with help from Hill – had 38 points and seven assists. “In Phoenix, why the hell I was guarding him at 36, 37, I don’t know,” Hill told Sporting News. “It was one of those things where, of all the guys I had to guard at that time, he was by far the toughest.” MORE: Kobe’s final season, in photos | 11 most meaningful road trips on Kobe’ tour...

The retired NBA superstar was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday morning near Los Angeles along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and another seven people. Throughout his 20-year career in the NBA, Bryant became one of the sport’s most successful and recognizable players. He picked up Michael Jordan’s mantle as the best player in the league and, like Jordan’s, his profile transcended the sport and spread way beyond the NBA’s borders....

Bryant had considerable problems with the knee prior to his Orthokine surgery, but has not experienced any issue since. Because of that success, Bryant, and other athletes, continue to take trips to Germany to see Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt. Fresh off injuries to his Achilles and knee and with the NBA season right around the corner, Bryant is back in Germany this week, according to his website. Bryant will visit Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt for a routine visit as part of this trip to Germany....

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchack told the Los Angeles Daily News that the team is not looking for Bryant’s seal of approval when deciding what to do with the second overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. MORE: Jahill Okafor wants Bryant to yell at him | Lakers expect Bryant to retire after next season “We’re not going to pick a player because he can play with Kobe, likes Kobe or dislikes Kobe,” Kupchak told Los Angeles News Group....

Playing for the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization, Choi rounded third on a hit to the outfield but hesitated. Seeing he had an open run to the plate, he continued on and tried to slide head first just outside the batter’s box. It was a dive more than anything, but it at least (eventually) resulted in a run scored. The Bears would go on to lose the game to the NC Dinos, 2-1....

The French coach boasts a faultless record of reaching Europe’s premier club competition during his time at the Gunners helm, but that run is in danger of coming to an end. Guardiola hits out at Wenger claims Arsenal sit fifth in the Premier League at present, three points adrift of Manchester City in fourth, and are yet to reveal who their manager will be for the 2017-18 campaign. Protests against Wenger have become commonplace as his contract runs down, and Koscielny concedes that uncertainty off the field has provided an unwelcome distraction for those trying to generate positive results on it....

The attacker was on the score sheet as The Eagles registered a 2-0 home win at Commerzbank-Arena. The 30-year-old has now taken his season goal tally to four in the topflight. On his 20th league appearance for Niko Kovac’s outfit, Boateng broke the deadlock two minutes to half-time. The attacker scored from close range on the assist of Timothy Chandler, who delivered a cross from the right. The Ghanaian almost turned villain after recess when he fouled Lars Stindl inside the box for a penalty....

While cannabidiol, or CBD, is extracted from marijuana, kratom is an herbal drug from the Mitragyna speciosa tree that can be chewed, taken as a capsule or consumed as a tea. CBD mostly acts as a pain reliever and relaxant, while kratom can act as a stimulant at low doses and as an opiate in higher doses. Using national data, Joseph Palamar, an associate professor at New York University Langone Medical Center, estimated that 0....

“On Christmas Eve Putin says he’s ‘ready to negotiate.’ Having ’negotiated’ w/ Russian military & Defense Ministry I learned lessons: Even in small things, RU officials don’t negotiate…they demand, then they lie, and then they renege on agreements,” Hertling tweeted Sunday. In a Christmas Day interview with Rossiya 1 state-television, Putin blamed Kyiv and its allies for refusing to engage in talks about ending the war in Ukraine that has been ongoing since February 24, Reuters reported....

Brignetta Dickerson told Tennessee television news station WREG that at first, she and others thought the shots ringing out were balloons popping. But soon they realized the sound was gunshots, and she ran to the back of the store. “And, here he comes right behind us and started shooting. And, he kept on shooting, shooting, shooting. He shot one of my co-workers in the head and shot one of my customers in the stomach,” Dickerson said....

Kuala Lumpur and UiTM became the fourth and fifth teams from the Premier League to qualify for the 2017 Malaysia Cup competition after the completion of the final fixtures in the first half of the season. They join Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu and PKNP FC who have already booked their passage into the Malaysia Cup earlier and are currently sitting in the top three position on the league. With only the top five spots guaranteeing qualification, Kuala Lumpur secured theirs after defeating MISC-MIFA 2-1 through goals scored by Modibo Konte and Guilherme de Paula while Akanni Sunday’s late equaliser gained the all important point against PKNP....

"It just feels great to be back," he said. "You have a true appreciation for the opportunity that you have and the opportunity to be around the players ... and the chance to do my job again." Kubiak, who returned to work on Monday, spoke to reporters on Wednesday for the first time since collapsing on the field at halftime in Houston's loss to Indianapolis on Nov. 3. He said doctors have limited his work this week, but that he will lead the team when the Texans try to break a franchise-record seven-game losing streak when they play the Raiders....

The 41-year-old actor shared a photo of himself on Instagram on Monday, revealing a completely ripped physique for his upcoming role in Marvel Studios’ latest superhero spot, The Eternals. It’s by far the buffest fans have ever seen him, and Nanjani seems to be just as shocked by the results of more than a year of hardcore training. “I never thought I’d be one of those people who would post a thirsty shirtless, but I’ve worked way too hard for way too long so here we are....

“Thanks everyone for the prayers, calls, texts and Facebook messages,” Gibson posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday. “Got home from the hospital last night. Just really sore today. Who needs an appendix anyway?” MORE: Opposite sides in Chase start debate | Updated standings | Kevin Harvick vs. Jimmie Johnson Team engineer John Klausmeier will take over the crew during Gibson’s absence. Stewart-Haas Racing said Gibson will get to the track once he feels physically able to work, which could be as late as Saturday afternoon....

Denny Hamlin was runner-up in the Hisense 200; Kyle Busch was a blink behind Hamlin. Both gained valuable information on running at the track where, weather permitting, the third Chase for the Sprint Cup will run on Sunday. MORE: Sunday’s Chase scenarios | Standings before Dover | For Busch, pressure is old hat Busch especially needs the information. Hamlin is already locked into the second three-race segment of the Chase, having won at Chicagoland....

Accidents at Bristol Motor Speedway always seem to be one or the other, but an accident between Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski near the end of Friday night’s Xfinity Series race left Busch calling out his rival. MORE: Big wrecks, big moments at Bristol “He’s a dirty racer,” Busch said, via NBC Sports. With four laps remaining in the Food City 300, Keselowski and Busch were fighting for the lead when Busch tried a pass near the bottom and slid his No....

Busch was set to start sixth in Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 based on Friday’s qualifying. Then things got off kilter in practice. MORE: Look back at Busch’s wins | Sunday race prep | Matt Kenseth will lead field Kyle Busch (Getty Images) “I got free up off of (turn) four, kind of like I did here the first time,” Busch told NBC Sports, “and instead of over-correcting I tried to just continue to make it rotate and spin....