Exercise: a cause of osteoarthritis?

A common question posed to rheumatologists by both patients and physicians is 'What is the role of exercise in arthritis?' Practitioners and patients want to know if regular exercise is a risk factor for the later development of osteoarthritis. This article briefly reviews the epidemiology of osteoarthritis and exercise and risk factors associated with the development of osteoarthritis in athletes. It also reviews how musculoskeletal tissues respond to loading in normal and injured states. Finally, the topic of exercise for arthritic patients is reviewed, and recommendations are given.