There are many causes of arthritis in the knee, some that you may have no control over and others that you do.
Injury, usually related to sports, trauma, placing too much stress on knees and joints, obesity and inactivity can all lead to the condition.
While people who regularly take part in sports may have high levels of fitness, the exercise they are doing could be damaging their knees.
Constant stress put on the joints by exercise could cause the ligaments, that hold the joint together, and the cartilage, which stops friction between bones that meet at a joint, to become damaged. This damage could eventually lead to arthritis.
Those who have had damage to the knee caused by an accident, may find that they develop arthritis in later life even if the damage has healed. An injury may cause them to stand or walk differently and this could lead to a change in the stress placed on a joint.
If you are overweight, you are five times more likely to develop arthritis in the knee than those who are at or around their ideal weight.
Being overweight puts more stress on the joints and can make it difficult to exercise, but a lack of exercise will result in weight gain. It is important to stay trim to avoid developing arthritis brought on by obesity, or exacerbate the symptoms of the condition.
Physical activity is important if you want to stay mobile and healthy. Inactivity can have a damaging effect on our health as any kind of physical activity ensures the joints to stay strong and flexible.
Good exercises for ensuring you remain flexible are tai chi and weight training, exercise that are slow and deliberate, focusing on the movement of the limbs.