Once Seen In Elderly, Osteoarthritis Now Affecting People As Young As 25

Osteoarthritis, once considered a condition of the elderly, is now increasingly affecting young adults aged 25-40, with women being slightly more prone due to hormonal and structural factors. It is a condition that occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time. Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint, it mostly affects the joints in hands, knees, hips, and spine.

Dr Balaji Patel Kola, Senior Interventional Radiologist at Maven Medical Center, Hyderabad, highlights that sedentary lifestyle is a major contributor to this alarming trend. "Sedentary jobs with prolonged sitting, poor posture, and lack of physical activity are major contributors to early-onset osteoarthritis. Factors like obesity, unhealthy eating habits, and repetitive joint stress from high-intensity sports or physically demanding work can accelerate joint degeneration. Even mental stress plays a role by triggering inflammation in the body," says Dr Kola.