Tips for treating-even preventing-osteoarthritis

Key Points:

• Osteoarthritis, a common cause of knee pain and stiffness, results from the wearing down of cartilage in the knee joint, affecting over 30 million adults in the U.S., including many of working age.
• The condition can significantly impact quality of life by reducing mobility, increasing fall risk, and leading to lost workdays, while also raising the risk of other chronic diseases due to decreased physical activity.
• Risk factors for knee osteoarthritis include weak leg muscles, obesity, female gender, older age, prior knee injuries, and family history, but healthy behaviors can help manage symptoms and potentially slow disease progression.
• Effective management strategies include a plant-rich diet to reduce inflammation, muscle strengthening, use of knee braces, anti-inflammatory medications, injections, and in some cases, knee replacement surgery.
• Preventive measures such as maintaining physical activity, managing weight, and eating a healthy diet can lower the risk of developing osteoarthritis, even for those with a family history of the disease.