- Age. Osteoarthritis becomes more common with increasing age. It may be that the state of the blood supply to the joint and the state of the natural mechanisms of repair become less efficient in some people as they become older.
- Genetics. There may be some inherited tendency for Osteoarthritis to develop in some people.
- Obesity. Knee and hip Osteoarthritis are more likely to develop, or be more severe, in obese people. This is because there is an increased load on the joints and a potential for more joint damage.
- Your sex. Women are more likely to develop Osteoarthritis than men.
- Previous joint injury, damage or deformity. For example, this may include previous joint infection, a previous fracture (break in the bone) around a joint, or a previous ligament injury that caused a joint to become unstable.
- Occupational overuse of a joint. For example, Osteoarthritis of the knee may be more common in elite athletes and elbow Osteoarthritis may be more common in people working with pneumatic drills.
