Prevention
Weight Control
Reducing body weight can reduce the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis by about 20% in men and by more than 30% in women. In patients who already have knee osteoarthritis, weight loss reduces the risk that the disease will get worse.
Strengthen the Muscles
Whether or not knee pain is felt, patients with signs of osteoarthritis in their x rays had thigh muscles that were considerably weaker than patients without signs of osteoarthritis. Strengthening muscles is assumed to provide greater support for the joints and to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.
Regardless of any effect on the risk of getting osteoarthritis, regular exercise -- especially weight-bearing exercise -- helps maintain physical function and slows the development of disabilities significantly.
Prevent Injuries
Stress on a joint that goes beyond what the joint is capable of taking, especially if the stress is repetitious, increases the risk of osteoarthritis later on. The same is true for sudden injuries such as bone fractures, meniscus tears, or tears of ligaments.
Antioxidants
Intake of antioxidant nutrients -- including vitamins C, D, and E and beta carotene -- has been found to be beneficial in people with osteoarthritis. One study found that people with osteoarthritis who consumed more antioxidant nutrients, especially vitamin C, slowed the progression of the disease, reduced the risk of cartilage loss, and reduced the risk of developing knee pain (McAlindon et al1996). These relationships were not seen with other nutrients. The results of the study may be explained by the effects of the antioxidant nutrients but also could be due to the fact that healthier people are more likely to eat diets that are rich in antioxidants.
So far, there is no proof that increased consumption of antioxidants can reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis in people who are free of the disease. It is also important to understand that antioxidant nutrients do not act independently from other nutrients and cannot replace eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin D
Osteoarthritis sufferers who have low blood levels and consume inadequate amounts of vitamin D tend to have a more rapid progression of the disease (as seen in x rays) than people who consume adequate amounts of vitamin D. Intake of Vitamin-D has not been found to affect the risk of getting osteoarthritis.
