In osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis (joint disease), there is a gradual loss of the protective cartilage at the ends of bones where they meet to form a joint. For a long time, OA was believed to be a normal response to aging, or years of "wear and tear" on joints. However, science has shown that OA is, in fact, an abnormal process, a disease that is more common with age, but is not caused by age. If it were, everyone who reaches a certain birthday would have it, and that's not the way it works. Aging is just one "pathway," or risk factor, that can lead to this joint disease. Read below to learn more about others risk factors
The role of risk factors
Many factors have been found to increase the risk of developing OA. These risk factors may also influence the rate at which the disease progresses and how quickly and severely a joint is damaged.
Risk factors for osteoarthritis (OA)
| Older age |
More than 80 percent of people older than 55 show signs of OA on an X-ray. While the association between aging and OA is strong, the reason for the association is unclear. One theory is that the cells involved in cartilage repair dwindle in number as a person ages. |
| Female sex |
Many more women than men develop OA. Men younger than 55 years old are more likely to have OA than women of the same age, but in later life, women are more commonly affected. Women also experience faster progression of hip OA than men. |
| Excess body weight |
Obesity plays more than just a mechanical role in OA development. Being overweight or obese is a strong risk factor for development of OA, particularly of the knees, and contributes to more severe symptoms and impact of OA. In addition, recent research suggests that excess body fat produces chemicals that may fuel joint inflammation. |
| Joint injury |
Traumatic injury to a joint, whether from sports or a car wreck, is another strong risk factor for development of OA. Among people with a prior knee injury, the lifetime risk of OA is 57 percent. Researchers are studying the ways in which cells' abnormal response to injury and inadequate repair contribute to the disease. |
| Genetic factors |
A person's genes can play a role in their risk for OA, particularly of the hands. For example, a person whose mother has or had OA of the hands may be at greater risk for also developing OA of the hands. |
| Occupation |
A job, or any long-term activity, that requires repeated, forceful or excessive knee bending, kneeling, or twisting or that involve lifting or carrying heavy loads may cause recurrent "little injuries," putting people at a higher risk for knee or hip OA over time. |
Next: Is Osteoarthritis Preventable?
|
