Senior Focus: Protecting knees to prevent or slow osteoarthritis

Researchers estimate that more than 10 percent of the population (27 million Americans) have some osteoarthritis.

This condition is associated with more than 7 million annual visits to doctors. Initial symptoms are pain with activities. However, as arthritis progresses, continuous pain even while at rest can occur.

Potential risk factors for knee osteoarthritis include obesity, older age and prior knee injury or surgery. Knee osteoarthritis cannot be cured completely, but many strategies can be used to slow its progression.

Obese patients have a higher rate of knee osteoarthritis, and moderate weight loss may reduce the incidence of knee osteoarthritis by 50 percent. Thus, lifestyle modifications that include a healthy diet and weight loss may protect the knee joint from disease progression.

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