No one knows for sure what causes osteoarthritis, but repeated little injuries which don’t heal completely could lead to this condition developing over time. Sporting injuries and broken bones can also lead to osteoarthritis in later life. Arthritis can be hereditary, so having members of your family with osteoarthritis can make it more likely that you will develop osteoarthritis yourself. Being overweight can put excess pressure on the joints, which can make arthritis more severe if you develop it. For good weight management tips on arthritis click this LINK.
Contrary to popular belief, being active and doing lots of exercise does not lead to arthritis - in fact, it can strengthen the muscles around the joints and promote a healthy weight which can actually reduce the risk factors that can lead to arthritis.
Doing exercise while you have osteoarthritis won’t make it worse either - as long as you’re careful and have correct form, exercise can actually improve the symptoms of arthritis and reduce pain because it can help strengthen the muscle around the joint to help you better support yourself.
For example, a study at Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong found that a combination of joint mobilisation and exercise led to a significant decrease in pain for people with arthritis of the knee.
