How Osteoarthritis Occurs

How does osteoarthritis occur?

Most people who suffer from osteoarthritis are middle-aged and elderly, so this disease is related to age. As you age, your bones gradually degenerate, so it is easy to get osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is also related to obesity, endocrine, mechanical and trauma factors. The fatter you are, the higher the chance of getting osteoarthritis.

1. Age factor

Osteoarthritis is related to age, and the incidence of the disease increases with age. This is because aging articular cartilage changes the function and properties of chondrocytes, thereby reducing the ability of chondrocytes to protect and repair tissues and reducing the responsiveness of anabolic growth factors. As age increases, patients' muscle strength and sensory sensitivity decrease, which greatly increases the risk of osteoarthritis.

2. Obesity factors

Some patients may suffer from osteoarthritis, which is mainly caused by obesity. Surveys show that the incidence of osteoarthritis in obese women is four times that of women of normal weight; in men it is 4.8 times. Weight gain can put excessive pressure on the degenerated joint surface, leading to cartilage damage; obesity can also cause endocrine disorders, which can aggravate the symptoms of osteoarthritis; osteoarthritis usually occurs in the sacrum, lumbar spine and knees, which are places with heavy loads.

3. Endocrine factors

Many hormones in the human body have a great impact on joints. For example, growth hormone stimulates cartilage. If growth hormone secretion is insufficient, it may lead to cartilage degeneration. Insulin can promote the synthesis and repair of chondrocytes. Many diabetic patients suffer from osteoarthritis due to insufficient insulin.

4. Mechanical and traumatic factors

The course of osteoarthritis is relatively slow, and many patients will have obvious symptoms after many years. If certain joints are used repeatedly for a long time, the incidence of joints may increase. For example, many athletes with joint strain or workers who need to engage in physical labor for a long time will develop osteoarthritis due to long-term damage to bones and joints.