What Does Not Cause Osteoarthritis?
Despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, three common misconceptions about osteoarthritis persist: that it is a normal part of the aging process, that is a wear and tear disease, and that it cannot be halted or reversed. Nothing could be further from the truth! Osteoarthritis is not inevitable. We used to believe that the joint deterioration found with aging was the same kind of deterioration seen in those with osteoarthritis. Now we know that there are striking differences between joints and cartilage that are affected by osteoarthritis and those that have simply aged normally.21,22 While it is true that osteoarthritis occurs more frequently and severely in older persons, this is due to prolonged exposure to the everyday traumas and repetitive motions that occur throughout a lifetime and decrease in the ability for minor self-repair. While osteoarthritis may occur more often and with more severity as we age, the aging process does not cause it. Primary osteoarthritis is not caused
