can inactivity, lack of exercise cause a young person to get osteoarthritis?

Answer 1

A bad diet could. Read "Your Health, Your Choice".

Answer 2

I have four children and used to walk miles every day to school and work. I'm 34 have a good diet but have put on weight because I gave up smoking 3 years ago and the medication I'm on causes weight gain and I have osteoarthritis in my hip, arms and feet and I'm incredible pain daily. So no lack of exercise doesn't come into it. I think its like everything else it just happens.

Answer 3

People as young as 16 can DEFINATELY suffer from arthritic disease. However this is not 'osteoarthritis' (which is a slowly developing degenerative condition) - but Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

There is often an inherited component to this, and activity levels are irrelevant. Diagnosis is clinical, and you should seek a medical opinion if you have serious cause to worry, because this condition merits,and responds to, early treatment.

However!...I hope you are just suffering a few adolescent growing pains...
(From: 'Creamcheese')

Answer 4

This is usually caused by some kind of sports injury, like if they are playing football and injure their knee, or other joints. My husband will have to have knee replacement surgery because of a ski injury several years ago. Lack of exercise is more likely to cause the child to become obese, and other forms of arthritis can happen because of extra weight on the joints.

Answer 5

osteoarthritis is wear and tear of the joints - the bones in the joints rub together and can be very painful. i am not sure if inactivity can cause this though. best person to advise you is your local doctor

Answer 6

No, it is a thing that runs in families, inherited, probably genetic, but it is usually Rheumatoid arthritis that shows up in young people. Osteo usually appears when a person is older, in their 40's or older.

Answer 7

No. However, the bones of a person who does not exercise do tend to be weaker.

Answer 8

no