Arthritis is a disease of joints. One or many joints can be affected by this disease. Many people all over the world over are affected by arthritis. The reason why arthritis develops is still not very clear. It is known to mankind for ages. Even though the exact reason for arthritis in not known, the researchers have found out many risk factors for arthritis that contribute to the development of the disease.

Risk factors for arthritis are,
• Age
• Genetics
• Weight
• Previous injury
• Occupation
One of the risk factors for arthritis is your age. This condition occurs when one becomes old. So often arthritis is called the ‘wear and tear’ of the bones. It was believed that over use of one’s joints cause arthritis. Osteoarthritis is called degenerative arthritis as the cartilage in the joint starts to fray. The broken part of the cartilage starts to cause trouble while moving the joint.
Over weight also is one of the risk factors of arthritis. The researchers have found out that often over weight people fall prey to osteoarthritis. The pressure on the weight bearing points such as the knees and hips are affected.

Researchers are trying to find out the role of genetics as one of the risk factors of arthritis. It has been found out that genetics indeed plays a part in contributing as a risk factor for arthritis.

It has been seen that osteoarthritis varies by ethnic group. African Americans and Caucasians have higher rate of arthritis than other ethnic groups in America. Asians on the other hand seems to have higher risk of developing osteoarthritis in the knee but at lower risk for arthritis of the hip than Caucasians. Caucasians have high risk of developing arthritis of the hip.

Researchers have found that obesity also is genetic disorder in some cases. Obesity also plays an important role as a risk factor in the development of arthritis. Being overweight can put a lot on pressure on the weight bearing points. That leads to developing osteoarthritis of knees and hip joints.

All over the world research is going on to find out the cause of this crippling disease. Once the cause is known then one can look at the remedy or cure for the disease. Along with age, genetics seems to be playing an important part in developing arthritis in some people.