A landmark government study suggests nearly one in two people (46%) will develop painful knee osteoarthritis over their lifetime, with the highest risk among those whoare obese. According to the Arthritis Foundation, the study underscores the immediate need for the public to understand what they can do to reduce the tremendous pain, disability and cost associated with arthritis.
Arthritis is exploding in an aging population of U.S. baby boomers. Nearly one in five U.S.
adults (46 million people) has arthritis and an estimated 67 million people will be affected by 2030. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, currently affects more than 27 million people in theU.S.
The study, published in the September issue of Arthritis Care & Research, was conducted using
data from the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina-based Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. It is one of the largest longitudinal studies to monitor the onset and progression of knee and hip osteoarthritis in this country. While there were no significant differences in risk by sex, race and education, the study found that nearly two in three people (65%) who are obese will develop knee osteoarthritis over their lifetime. The study also found that those with a prior knee injury had a lifetime risk of 57%.
"This groundbreaking research reaffirms the importance and need for Americans to take action to
prevent the problems that knee osteoarthritis can cause and to reduce its occurrence," said Janet Collins Ph.D., director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. "CDC's Arthritis Program works in partnership with states and national organizations to promote arthritis self-management education and physical activity that help people with arthritis improve the quality of their lives."
To reduce the pain and disability of arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation recommends the following:
• Learn techniques to manage your arthritis. Participate in the Arthritis Foundation Self-Help
Program, a self-management course that teaches people with arthritis how to manage the pain and
challenges that arthritis imposes. The course has been shown to lead to a 40% reduction in pain.
• Control weight. For those already living with symptoms, losing 15 pounds can cut knee pain in
half. Maintaining a healthy weight also can lower a person’s risk of osteoarthritis. In fact, one
study showed that women who lost as little as 11 pounds halved their risk of developing knee
osteoarthritis and its accompanying joint pain.
• Get active. Many people think that physical activity can worsen arthritis. Nothing could be
further from the truth. Physical activity can help decrease symptoms of osteoarthritis. In
addition, physical activity is an important component of weight control and helps maintain
healthy bones, muscles and joints. For joint-safe exercise programs, try the Arthritis
Foundation’s Life Improvement Series land or water exercise programs.
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