Osteoarthritis, the Result of “Wear and Tear” on the Body?

Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis (OA): The notion is widespread that exercise or intensive physical labor can cause osteoarthritis in the knees and other joints of the body, especially in older people, and yes even those professional athletes who succumb to the constant wear and tear on their bodies season after season. In the wake of the NBA playoff series now underway, several athletes are not battling one another up and down the hardwood, but rather battling something of a different opponent. To date, the NBA injury report reads…

• 5 knee surgery’s, out for season
• 5 knee soreness, out 4-6 weeks
• 3 torn knee ligament’s, out 6-8 weeks
• 3 knee sprains
• 1 torn meniscus, out for season
• 1 torn cartilage

The prevailing idea is that too much pounding can bring about the cartilage loss, and the subsequent pain, that is the combatant OA.  However, a recent study published in the February 2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research finds that, contrary to popular belief, exercise and a physical demanding job has no effect on the risk of developing OA.

Researchers have found that the people who exercise -moderately or at the professional level, had the same risk of developing OA as those who did not.  

On the other hand, people who are overweight, as in most studies reveal (Obesity and Osteoarthritis -The Framingham Study), do have an increased risk of developing OA, but exercise does not contribute to that risk. Therefore, while diet and exercise does have a protective effect, as some other studies had suggested, the case of accidental injury, unsafe movements, and fatigue can all lead you to the sideline, the Health and Wellness Room or even out for the season.  

This shows that whether you train and compete at the professional level or work a regular 9 to 5, you can reap the many well-documented benefits of exercise without fear that it will bring about OA.

Like every sporting organization, at Proof:Positive our objective is to make worksites safer, more efficient, and more profitable; however, our athletes are your employees. Employees that we teach to work safer, be more efficient and therefore reducing the number of workplace injuries they sustain.

Accidents do happen, and when this occurs, educating your employees on the fundamentals of reducing workplace injuries will prevent further accidents from happening – especially those repeat occurrences.

If you are interested in finding out more about the services we provide and how to contact one of our medically-trained safety experts.