The Link Between OsteoArthritis and Age

History shows that there is definitely a link between OsteoArthritis (OA) and how old we are, but exactly what that link is not as obvious as we might think. It is often thought that the development of OsteoArthritis is inevitable as we get older. However, not everyone who grows old experiences OsteoArthritis and not every joint in the body is affected by age in the same way. In fact, there are people who live well into life without ever experiencing or showing signs of OA. By definition, OsteoArthritis is a degenerative joint disease, which means symptoms and signs of OA will often show up as the joints in our bodies begin to break down. The long-term wear and tear of the cartilage in our joints over the course of many years is what often leads to OsteoArthritis. It is safe to say that all of us will experience the degradation of the cartilage in our joints, but not all of us will suffer from OsteoArthritis. There are other contributing factors, such as weight, genetics, and joint injuries. While any joint in the body might be affected by OsteoArthritis, it most commonly affects these joints:

• Hips
• Knees
• Neck
• Hands
• Wrists
• Lower Back

The Arthritis Foundation reports that women over the age of 50 are more likely to be affected by OsteoArthritis than men. For both men and women, symptoms generally begin to manifest them slowly after the age of 40. Still, while it is highly likely that everyone’s cartilage is steadily wearing down with age, not everyone will develop OA. Why is this? It is likely that other factors are playing a more crucial role in the onset of OA than just worn out cartilage. Weight, for example, could definitely lead to OA. An overweight person who has had years of extra stress and pressure put on their hip and knee joints, may find that, when the cartilage in those joints finally does begin to break down with age, they are more likely to develop OA. A joint injury from our youth is another example of an outside cause of OsteoArthritis in our later years. The injury may not have much of an effect until we reach the age when our joints begin to degenerate. Now, the injury may come back to haunt us as OsteoArthritis. If you begin to notice that your joints in your hands are becoming stiffer or that your knees sometimes are a source of pain, you may be experiencing the onset of OsteoArthritis. The good news is, there are treatments available, such as the OsteoArthritis of the Knee program offered at Arrowhead Health Centers. We provide a proven system and a team of experts to help alleviate the pain associated with OsteoArthritis. Give us a call today to learn more about our program – 623-334-4000, option 9.