What increases my risk for osteoarthritis?

Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:

No one is sure what causes osteoarthritis, but it's clear that some people are more likely than others to develop joint pain due to this condition. Osteoarthritis could be in your future if:

Your parents had joint problems. Osteoarthritis seems to run in families.
You overuse certain joints. Osteoarthritis is more common in certain professions that involve repetitive motions and heavy lifting. One study found that farmers and fishermen have a high risk for osteoarthritis, for instance.
You injure a joint. Damage to any of the structures in a joint, such as the tendons and ligaments, can increase the risk for osteoarthritis later in life.
You are overweight. Extra pounds put more pressure on the knees, hips and other joints. However, some scientists believe that inflammation from fat cells may damage joints too.

It's easy to see why osteoarthritis is one of the most common medical conditions that we face as we age. However, you can take steps, such as getting plenty of exercise and keeping your weight under control, that will lower your risk.

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No one is sure what causes osteoarthritis, but it's clear that some people are more likely than others to develop joint pain due to this condition. Osteoarthritis could be in your future if: Your parents had joint problems. Osteoarthritis... More

If you fit in any of the categories below, you may have an increased risk for osteoarthritis:

Older than 40: Often people 40 and under do not experience the symptoms of the disorder although they may show increased size of their joints in x-rays.

Female: For reasons unknown, more women than men are affected by osteoarthritis.

Underlying Disease or Injury: Those who suffer from joint injuries, bone and joint diseases, or those born with malformed joints and cartilage defects are more at risk. If you have a history of osteoarthritis in your family you will be more likely to be affected by it.

Overweight: Your weight also increases your risk because the more you weigh the more stress you place on joints.

Physical labor: Occupations that include repetitive motions that place stress on a joint may be weakening the joint.

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If you fit in any of the categories below, you may have an increased risk for osteoarthritis: Older than 40: Often people 40 and under do not experience the symptoms of the disorder although they may show increased size of their joints in x-rays.... More

RealAge answered:

A major injury or operation on a joint increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis at that joint. While normal physical activity and exercise are good for joints, hard, repetitive activity may injure joints.

Diseases that involve abnormalities of joints also can lead to osteoarthritis in later life. For example, Perthes' disease of the hips is an abnormality with which some people are born and which greatly increases their risk of osteoarthritis.

Women who have a high risk of osteoporosis have a lower risk of getting osteoarthritis. And women who have a low risk of osteoarthritis tend to have lower bone density and, therefore, a higher risk of problems related to osteoporosis.

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A major injury or operation on a joint increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis at that joint. While normal physical activity and exercise are good for joints, hard, repetitive activity may injure joints. Diseases that involve... More

Healthwise answered:

Things that can increase your risk for osteoarthritis are called risk factors. Some risk factors, such as your age or family history, can't be changed or prevented.

You may be able to reduce other risk factors by making lifestyle changes or taking medicine.

Risk factors you may be able to change or prevent:

Being overweight. Extra weight puts added stress on your joints and can change the normal shape of the joint.
Joint injury. A single major injury to a joint or several minor injuries can cause cartilage damage over time. Activities that put repeated stress on a joint include squatting, kneeling or heavy lifting common to some sports and jobs.
Lack of exercise, which can cause your muscles and joints to get weak and stiff.

Risk factors you can't change:

Getting older. Age is not a direct cause of arthritis, but as you get older you're more likely to have symptoms. Still, not all older adults will have joint pain.
A family history of arthritis.
Loose or odd-shaped joints. Knees that bend outward (bowleg) or knees that bend toward each other (knock knees), for example, can cause an imbalance in the joints, because the cartilage wears down at an uneven rate.
A previous infection of the joint.
Other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis.
Metabolic or endocrine problems that cause a buildup of iron (hemochromatosis), copper (Wilson's disease), or calcium (hyperparathyroidism) in the blood and tissues of the body.
Decreased nerve function.