Embarrassing Illnesses

It is not possible to prevent osteoarthritis altogether. However, you may be able to minimise your risk of developing osteoarthritis by avoiding factors that can make developing it more likely.

Look after your joints

Try not to put excessive stress on your joints, particularly your hips, knees and the joints in your hands.

Avoid types of exercise that put strain on your joints and force them to carry all of your weight, such as running and weight training. Instead, opt for exercises like swimming and cycling where your joints are better supported.

Try to maintain good posture at all times, and avoid staying in the same position for too long. If you work at a desk, make sure that your chair is at the correct height, and take regular breaks to move around.

Keep your muscles strong

Your muscles help to support your joints so having strong muscles will help your joints to stay strong too. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes five times a week to build up your muscle strength.

However, avoid weight-bearing exercises that put excess strain on your joints such as running and weight training.

Lose weight if you are overweight or obese

Being overweight or obese can make your osteoarthritis worse. To find out whether or not you are overweight or obese you can use the body mass index (BMI) calculator.

Talk to your GP, and see 'self help' for more information about weight loss and osteoarthritis.