• ENG

Could you be at a risk of osteoarthritis?

Could you be at a risk of osteoarthritis?

A few pointers you should keep in mind.

Written by Pavitra Sampath |Updated : October 12, 2015 9:25 AM IST

October 12th is World Arthritis Day

Osteoartritis is a painful condition that affects the bones that help make up a joint. In this condition, the cartilage between two bones wears off and leads to the rubbing of the two bones. This causes a lot of pain, discomfort and swelling in the region and may even cause restriction in movements of the joint. Over time the joint may lose its shape and could even lead to the formation of bone spurs -- which causes more pain.

While the condition is thought to be a fairly common one, it is seen most often in women. Apart from that, there are some other risk factors that you should watch out for. According to Mr. Gundeep Singh, Occupational and Neuro Therapist, AktivOrtho , the following are the most common ones.

Also Read

More News

  • Old age: The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age.
  • Lack of exercise: A sedentary lifestyle or the lack of exercise can cause your muscles and joints to become weak and stiff.
  • Your gender: Women are at a higher risk of suffering from this condition as compared to men.
  • Obesity: Being overweight is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis as the excess weight tends to place added stress on weight-bearing joints, such as your hips and knees.
  • Occupations with the repetitive stress on one joint: If your job includes tasks that place repetitive stress on a particular joint, that joint may eventually develop osteoarthritis. This basically means a job where you are doing one motion constantly, like slouching over your laptop etc.
  • Genetics: If someone in your family has had the condition you are quite likely to suffer from it too as your genetic structure might be such.
  • Certain other diseases: People with other diseases like diabetes, hypothyroidism and Wilson's disease are more prone to have osteoarthritis.
  • A joint injury: A single major injury to a joint or several minor injuries can cause cartilage damage over time.

Image source: Shutterstock


For more articles on Diseases & Conditions, visit our Diseases & Conditions section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. For Diseases & Conditions related queries, visit our forum.