Osteoarthritis Causes and Risk Factors

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• QWhat causes osteoarthritis?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Age is one of the greatest risk factors for osteoarthritis (OA). The general wear and tear of aging can erode the cartilage that supports and cushions the joints of the hands, spine, hips and knees so that bones rub against each other. This rubbing can cause the painful condition of osteoarthritis. More than a third of people age 65 and older have OA.

  Also, being overweight or obese puts extra pressure on the knee and hip joints, which can lead to osteoarthritis. OA may also be hereditary. Other risk factors include:

  • joint defects
  • genetic defects
  • female gender
  • deformities and misaligned bones
  • injuries to the joint
  • occupations that require repetitive motions
  • other diseases, like gout or rheumatoid arthritis

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• QWho is at risk for hip osteoarthritis?

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  A National Athletic Trainers' Association answered

  Heredity is a factor in developing hip osteoarthritis. However, there are factors that can increase the likelihood of hip osteoarthritis. Obesity, lifting heavy loads and participation in sports/activities that involve a great deal of hip rotation can also increase the development of hip osteoarthritis.

  This answer provided for NATA by Gary E. Morin, PhD, ATC, LAT.

• QWhat does occupation have to do with osteoarthritis?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  People who type, operate machinery, bend repeatedly or who have to regularly lift and carry heavy objects (construction workers, landscapers, warehouse workers) are more likely to develop osteoarthritis. Professional athletes whose sports include running, jumping or swinging are also at risk for injuries that may lead to osteoarthritis.

  The repetitive motions of these jobs put constant stress on certain joints. Repetitive stress can injure the joints of the hands, spine, hips and knees by wearing away the cartilage that supports and cushions them, causing bones to rub against each other. People in these professions should talk to their employers about ways to reduce repetitive motion injuries. Athletes can work with trainers and use certain stretching and warm up techniques to cut down on their risk of injuries.

• QHow does ethnicity affect the risk of osteoarthritis?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Osteoarthritis is not more prevalent in black people. But one exception to this is knee osteoarthritis, which affects black women more often than women in other ethnic groups. Researchers do not know why this is the case.

  Age, not race, is the main risk factor for osteoarthritis. The disease is most common in people over age 45.

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• QHow is my family history related to osteoarthritis?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Family history may play a role in who gets osteoarthritis (OA). Researchers have found that there is a strong link between genes and osteoarthritis. Several genes have been identified that show osteoarthritis can be inherited. More research needs to be done on genetic tendency toward obesity and how it influences osteoarthritis, how genetics physically affects the shape of the joint, and other health factors that may or may not have some bearing on risk.

  It's believed that people with osteoarthritis may inherit abnormalities of the bones or cartilage that may cause the cartilage to wear away more easily. When the cartilage that supports and cushions the joints of the hands, spine, hips and knees wears away, the bones rub against each other causing the painful condition known as osteoarthritis. OA is a leading cause of disability in people older than 65 and can interfere with a person's ability to work and normal perform day-to-day activities such as climbing stairs.

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• QDo only elderly people get osteoarthritis?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Osteoarthritis (OA) does not only occur in the elderly, but the condition is more common with age. This is because OA is often caused by years of wear and tear on the joints.

  More than a third of people age 65 and older have osteoarthritis. However, it can occur in younger people after an injury, if they are obese or have a family history of the disease. Just because someone is elderly doesn't mean they will get OA. Staying in shape by being physically active and eating right may help prevent OA.

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• QDo repeated motions cause osteoarthritis?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  Yes, repeated motion can cause osteoarthritis. But, generally osteoarthritis occurs over many years. Additionally, there here is likely some component of inflammation involved. The general aging process is well known to cause some degree of osteoarthritis.

• QCan infections cause osteoarthritis?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Infections and medical conditions can damage the joint, leading to inflammation and osteoarthritis (OA). Osteoarthritis that is caused by infection or injury is called secondary osteoarthritis.

  Medical conditions that may cause OA include:

  • Bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia
  • Avascular necrosis, a disorder that blocks the blood supply near a joint
  • Chronic gout

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• QWhat other diseases are commonly associated with osteoarthritis?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Osteoarthritis is considered a form of degenerative joint disease because it occurs when the cartilage that normally surrounds and protects the joints wears away. When the cartilage is worn away, bones rub against one another, causing pain and disability.

  Several other diseases have symptoms similar to osteoarthritis (OA). They include:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease that can cause pain in the joints. RA occurs when the immune system attacks the joints and muscles causing joint pain and stiffness.
  • Lupus, an autoimmune disease like RA, that causes inflammation in the joints, as well as in the tendons, skin and other connective tissues.
  • Gout, which occurs when uric acid crystals build up in the joints, and causes joint inflammation, pain and tenderness.
  • Bursitis, which occurs when the bursa (a fluid-filled sac) in the joints is irritated, can also cause pain.
  • Tendinitis, which occurs in the tendons from overuse or strenuous exercise, can cause pain, swelling and decreased motion in the affected joints. 

  A doctor can often distinguish between OA and other conditions using a physical exam and x-rays.

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• QIs being overweight or obese related to osteoarthritis?

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  A RealAge answered

  Excess body weight that is not due to muscle is a modifiable risk factor that appears to increase the risk of osteoarthritis through mechanical stress and metabolic changes associated with excess fat. The exact nature of the metabolic changes is still being investigated.

  Overweight men and women increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee—often of both knees. Being overweight also increases the risk of osteoarthritis of the knee increasing in severity once it has developed. Excess weight may increase the risk of osteoarthritis of the hand joints.

   

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