By Dr. Graham A. Colditz

Siteman Cancer Center

When it comes to daily aches and pains, it’s not uncommon for our knees to be a main source. And while there can be many different long-term causes of such issues, osteoarthritis often is a reason why, especially as we age.

In knee osteoarthritis, the cartilage between knee bones wears down. In a healthy knee, this cartilage helps the joint move smoothly and also helps protect it. When that cartilage thins and wears down, problems can begin – and often get worse over time.

“Osteoarthritis can cause knee pain and stiffness, which can negatively impact a person’s activity level, risk of falling, mood and general quality of life,” said Dr. Abby Cheng, an orthopedic surgeon at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis who also specializes in physiatry, which is the non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation of conditions like arthritis.

And these issues can impact us in ways we may not immediately think about. Pain and mobility problems from osteoarthritis can lead to days off work and lost income, and lower levels of physical activity can lead to increased risk of other chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

For a disease that can have such a wide-ranging impact on people’s lives, it’s also quite common. More than 30 million adults in the U.S. have some form of osteoarthritis, with the knee most often impacted. And while the disease usually affects older adults, about half of cases are in people of working age.

“Having weak leg muscles and being overweight or obese increases a person’s risk for knee osteoarthritis,” Cheng said. “Women, older adults, people with a prior knee injury and those with a family history of osteoarthritis are also more likely to have the condition.”

For people with osteoarthritis, healthy behaviors and other treatments can help deal with symptoms like pain and poor mobility – and may even slow worsening of the condition.

“Eating more plants and less processed or sugary food reduces inflammation in the body, which can reduce pain from osteoarthritis in all joints,” Cheng said. “Other common treatments for knee osteoarthritis include strengthening the thigh muscles, using knee braces, taking anti-inflammatory medications, getting cortisone and other injections, and sometimes having knee replacement surgery.”

Health-care providers can help patients put together plans for managing their condition as well as put them in touch with programs and other resources to get started and keep up with healthy behaviors over time.

And even small changes to behaviors can have important benefits when it comes to osteoarthritis, Cheng said. For example, in someone who is overweight, losing 10 pounds reduces stress on the knees by 40 pounds with each step, and that can significantly help with joint pain.

Many of these same approaches can also help lower the risk of developing osteoarthritis in the first place. This includes being physically active – including running, contrary to popular belief – keeping weight in check and eating a healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables and low in processed and refined foods.

While osteoarthritis is a different type of disease than cancer or heart disease, it still has a major impact on the health, well-being and quality of life of millions of people. And like those other diseases, there are steps we can take to help lower our risk – and that of our families.

“Some people think that because a parent or grandparent had osteoarthritis, they will develop it too,” Cheng said. “And while it’s true that osteoarthritis can run in families, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing a person can do to successfully lower their risk of developing it.”

It’s your health. Take control.

Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is an internationally recognized leader in cancer prevention and the creator of the free prevention tool YourDiseaseRisk.com.