Facts You Need to Know About Osteoarthritis

Weight-Bearing Joints Are The Most Commonly Affected

Those Individuals inflammation in specific joints, like those in the knee. This is because weight-bearing joints are the most commonly affected by osteoarthritis. Bear in mind the fact many athletes tend to require hospitalization for osteoarthritis that manifests in their ankles, knees, and hips.

Osteoarthritis occurs as a result of cartilage surrounding the ends of bones around the joints breaking down. In some cases, it partially breaks down, but in others, the cartilage goes away completely. This leaves the bones' ends exposed and able to rub up against one another. Since we put our weight-bearing joints through the most usage, these are the ones with the most worn-down cartilage.

Discover who is most at risk for developing osteoarthritis next.

Women Are More At Risk

As the National Institute on Aging states, before the age of forty-five, men are more likely to develop symptoms of osteoarthritis. However, after forty-five, women are more at risk. But why is this?

For starters, women tend to naturally have wider hips than men, which could put extra strain on the knees. Also, women are more likely to have joint hypermobility, which puts even more wear-and-tear on the joints. Joint hypermobility might even cause earlier onsets of osteoarthritis. Additionally, childbirth and osteoarthritis seem to have some correlation. Studies have shown the more children a woman bears, the more likely she becomes to develop knee or hip arthritis and need a knee replacement later in life. Hormones and weight might also play a role as to why women are more at risk after they turn forty-five. Decreased estrogen and even a lack of testosterone might increase risk. And since women have a slightly increased obesity risk, weight management through lifestyle choices can lessen the risk for osteoarthritis.