Dem bones .. why your knee health’s connected to your lifestyle
Some forms of arthritis may be preventable. Caroline Jones looks at the latest research that has revealed how to reduce your risk – and the latest treatments if you do happen to suffer…
ARTHRITIS holds 10million Britons in the grip of excruciating pain every day. That’s a staggering one in six of us.
The most common type is osteoarthritis (OA), which experts have long believed is the result of years of wear and tear damaging the smooth cartilage that lines our joints.
But a study has found that many cases of OA could be preventable with a good diet and regular exercise – debunking the long-held view that it is an inevitable part of ageing.
Researchers at the University of Surrey discovered poor diet and an inactive lifestyle triggers cells in the joints to reprogram.
This leads to an overproduction of glucose, which is difficult for the body to remove and causes inflammation and eventually cartilage damage.
“For too long we’ve assumed osteoarthritis is part of getting older,” said study author Ali Mobasheri.
But this new research, Mobasheri says, confirms we should “never underestimate the significance of a healthy diet and lifestyle – as not only does it impact upon our wellbeing but can alter the metabolic behaviour of our cells and tissues leading to serious illnesses.”
More evidence that OA is avoidable comes from Harvard University in the US. In a study of skeletons from the last 100 years, researchers concluded that people today are twice as likely to get arthritis than their grandparents were.
Scientists link this to a rise in inactivity – not just obesity and longer lifespans that we previously thought to be largely responsible.
The authors said: “Right now, our society is barely focusing on arthritis prevention.” For advice visit: arthritisresearchuk.org