Osteoarthritis is a degenerative form of arthritis marked by worn, damaged or lost cartilage. Common symptoms associated with arthritis include:

  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Soft tissue muscle aches
  • Stiffness

In severe cases, arthritis can even make activities of daily living difficult and painful. Other related issues also can arise because prolonged arthritis pain can cause weakness around the arthritic joint, and other body parts may compensate for this weakness. For example, someone with arthritis in the knee may change his or her running gait, which can lead to pain and problems with the ankle, hip, back and muscles around the knee.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a different form of arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease and can cause pain, swelling and stiffness in your joints, but it can also affect parts of your body beyond your joints. Although osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have some things in common, the information in this section is focused on osteoarthritis.

Does exercise cause arthritis?

The short answer is no. Exercise can actually help relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Who’s at risk?

Age and weight have an impact on susceptibility to arthritis, but the major risk is related to trauma. Breaking an ankle, tearing a ligament or damaging key structures of your joint like the cartilage and meniscus will result in a 60-70 percent chance of having arthritis within 10 years.

Diagnosis

Your history and physical examination will help your physician in the diagnosis of arthritis. Many times x-rays are also done to further look at the joint. X-rays can show joint space narrowing and bony spurs, common signs of arthritis. Physicians and scientists are working on finding earlier biomarkers for osteoarthritis, because early detection may lead to better long-term outcomes.

A Closer Look at Arthritis and Sports

Nonsurgical Treatments

Nonsurgical treatments

Our objectives are to create a balance of activity and arthritis treatment, and to determine what a healthy load is for body parts. Our immediate goal is to minimize symptoms and slow progression of the disease.

Our providers who treat osteoarthritis in athletes

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Kyle Mueller, PA-C
4.8 out of 5

Kyle Mueller, PA-C

  • Orthopaedics
  • Physician Assistant
Accepting new patients
  • Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute
  • Outpatient Care New Albany
Margaret Kirwin, MD

Margaret Kirwin, MD

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Sports Medicine
  • Physician

Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine

Accepting new patients
(614) 293-3600
Breanna Benjamin, DO

Breanna Benjamin, DO

  • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
  • Osteopathic Physician
Accepting new patients
  • Outpatient Care Dublin
  • Outpatient Care Lewis Center
  • Spine Care in Outpatient Care Dublin

Locations where we treat sports-related injuries

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