HOW COMMON IS KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS?

Here are some interesting and important facts and stats about osteoarthritis.  [VIDEO]

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder in the USA.

In 2013, the medical costs to treat arthritis in the US exceeded 300 billion dollars. 

Knee osteoarthritis affects around 30 million people in USA. 

Knee osteoarthritis affects 10% of men and 13% of women age 60 years and older.

37% people over the age of 60 have x-rays that show “wear and tear” that causes osteoarthritis pain.  However, only about 12 percent of people have OA pain. 

This means that not everyone with “wear and tear” will have pain!

A job where you do repetitive kneeling ,squatting, and carrying in midlife doubles your risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.

The more you weigh, the more likely it is for you to get osteoarthritis in your knees. 

• Being overweight (body mass index 25 to 30) make you 2 times more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis.
• Being obese (body mass index over 30) makes you 4 times more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis.

Most people recover from osteoarthritis pain flare-ups.

The average age of a patient who gets knee replacement surgery is around 66-68 years of age.

Studies suggest that osteoarthritis could have a genetic link, but the biggest risk factors include age, physical activity, and obesity.