Known risk factors that are under your control can help you avoid knee osteoarthritis, Elizabeth Tracey reports

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:05 — 1.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Are you at risk to develop knee osteoarthritis? Stefan Coombs, an orthopedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins, says the answer may be yes if you are older, overweight, female, or have a family history of the condition. And there are also other conditions to be aware of.

Coombs: Individuals with a history of joint trauma are three to six times more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis and are diagnosed approximately 10 years earlier. It can either be from direct impact and damage to the cartilage. It can also be from the ligaments or tendons or the menisci which can then cause secondary injury to the cartilage of the knee. Some studies have shown a weak association with western pattern diets such as soft drinks and saturated fats to have an increased association with knee osteoarthritis.  :33

Coombs says you can engage in activities that help build up the muscles around the joint to help. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.