Osteoarthritis Health Center

Tools & Resources

Font Size

Osteoarthritis - What Increases Your Risk

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.

Recommended Related to Osteoarthritis

Best Stretches for Arthritis Morning Stiffness

For many people with arthritis, morning is the most difficult part of the day. Waking up with stiff joints or joint pain is a common complaint. Although it may seem like the hardest time of day to get moving, doing a few stretches in the morning can give you a more limber start to your day. It only takes a few minutes to stretch and warm up your muscles and joints. But for the best results, the key is to do arthritis stretches every day. Taking a warm shower before or after stretching can also help...

Read the Best Stretches for Arthritis Morning Stiffness article > >

Risk factors you may be able to change or prevent include:

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 include:

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 . When the sensory nerves in your joints that allow your body to make tiny changes in posture are damaged, you're more likely to lose your balance. This problem is often seen in people who have nerve damage that may be caused by diabetes or low levels of vitamin B12.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 08, 2011

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.