Osteoarthritis can affect younger, active individuals and is challenging to diagnose in this population due to their higher pain tolerance; major risk factors include obesity, lack of exercise, injury to joints from improper training or playing, and defects in leg alignment like genu varum or genu valgum that increase pressure on cartilage. The document discusses osteoarthritis in young active individuals, risk factors like obesity, lack of exercise, injury, and leg alignment defects, and challenges diagnosing the condition in this population.

1. Osteoarthritis in Young and Active Individuals
Dr. Kavin Khatri
MS,DNB,MNAMS,FACS,FASIF,FIMSA
Fellow, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York , USA
Fellow, ONS hospital, Connecticut , USA
Fellow, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, USA
Fellow, AO international , John Hunter Hospital, Australia
Fellow, SICOT, Charite Hospital, Berlin, Germany
Fellow, Sports injury Centre, New Delhi
Assistant Professor,
Department of Orthopedics,
AIIMS Bathinda

3. Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most devastating chronic conditions that affect people around
the world
Although the usual population associated with the condition is the elderly, who are mostly
inactive, athletes and younger individuals are also susceptible.
Diagnosing OA in athletes and young individuals is sometimes challenging because of their
increased pain tolerance.
Several considerations need to be taken into account when choosing a treatment modality.

4. Obesity: is a major cause of early
wear and tear of joints. In people who
are overweight, this wear and tear can
happen much earlier, as excess weight
multiples the pressure on the joints,
hurting the cartilage in the process.

5. Lack of exercise
As a generation dependent of technology, we risk
making our bodies obsolete.
It is important to understand that our bones,
muscles, ligaments, and cartilage all come
together to form a complex system that allows
us mobility and an effective life. Much like in a
machine, lack of recommended amount of use
can lead to problems with the body’s system.
Muscles will start growing weaker if they are not
strengthened with workouts and exercise;
ligament and cartilage too can start withering
away early if they are underused or overused.
The former is the problem with our generation

6. Injury
An injury to a joint can sometimes have
dramatic effects. When the cartilage or ligament
suffers a tear or cut and is not repaired in time,
it may impair the knee joint. This often happens
to sportspersons who play without supervision of
a physio or trainer. When left untreated or
diagnosed for a long time, a ligament tear may
develop into a serious joint issue, necessitating
knee replacement. Lack of awareness about safe
playing, avoiding injuries and the need for
warming up before throwing yourself into the
game can result in such injuries.

7. Defect in the alignment of leg
Genu varum
You can have "genu varum" with both knees that deviate from one
another :
The displacement of the centre of gravity inside the knee increases the
internal pressure in the cartilage of the joint between the femur and the
tibia and can therefore promote the occurrence of osteoarthritis at this
site.
Genu valgum
Conversely, "genu valgum" is the cause of knees that are closer to one
another while the ankles are further apart.
But saying that "genu varum" is a predisposing factor does not mean
that you will definitely suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee.

8. Thank you and now the KNEE EXPERTS will do the talking …..