What are some of the risk factors for developing knee osteoarthritis?
Dr. Fitz: There are primary and secondary risk factors. Primary risk factors include age over 50, obesity, genetic disposition, female gender and abnormal bone density. Secondary risk factors include: previous sport injuries to the knee and repetitive stress injuries such as kneeling, squatting e.g. in certain professions such as carpet laying. High impact sports such as long-distance running or playing tennis are also risk factors, along with some rarer metabolic or congenital disorders or repeated episodes of gout or septic arthritis. Studies also show that certain disorders such as low intake of Vitamin C or D, poor physical fitness, or either bow or knock knees accelerate the progression of osteoarthritis. Knee1: What are some of the indications that a patient is in need of a knee replacement surgery rather than an alternate route. Dr. Fitz: In general, knee replacement surgery is elective surgery, and if surgery goes well, activities of day living will improve. If pain and limitat
