Question: Is arthritis hereditary?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Not always. While many autoimmune and arthritic disorders may be inherited, there are many forms of non-inherited arthritis. Any fracture or damage to a joint will produce premature arthritic change, independent of heredity.
Overuse and stress-related arthritis is not heredity. Joint Infections and some drug side effects can also cause arthritis. But when I consider all the cases of chronic arthritis I have seen, the vast majority of chronic sufferers of arthritis have indeed had a positive past family history of the disease.
© 2026 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.