Causes

OA develops gradually and pain varies per patient. In one patient, OA may present as a soreness or stiffness but will not interfere with daily activities. Other patients have OA progress to where pain and stiffness interfere with daily activities, making it difficult to walk, climb stairs or sleep.

The key risk factors of osteoarthritisOsteoarthritis
Arthritis typically with onset during middle or old age that is characterized by degenerative (gradual deterioration of joint) and sometimes abnormal growth in the bone and cartilage of one or more joints and a progressive wearing down of opposing joint surfaces with consequent distortion of joint position and is marked symptomatically especially by pain, swelling, and stiffness; abbreviation (OA) are:^1,2

1. Age- incidences of OA increase as a patient ages
2. Obesity- increased body weight is a serious factor, especially for knee OA
   
   1. every pound gained adds 3 pounds of pressure on the knee
   2. for every 1 pound of weight loss, there is a four pound reduction in the load experienced by each knee for each step taken during daily activities³
   3. average weight loss of 5 percent in overweight patients experience an 18 percent gain in overall function³
   4. Body weight affects a person's risk for developing knee OA, particularly in 8-12 years before symptoms appear⁴
3. Injury or overuse- athletes or those who have jobs with repetitive motions
4. Genetics or heredity- plays a role in development of OA
5. Other diseases- Rheumatoid Arthritis can increase chances of developing OA