While a great deal of time has been spent researching the many different types of arthritis, there is still much that is not understood about these conditions. No smoking gun cause has been identified and in many cases, scientists simply do not know what causes this group of diseases.

For example, rheumatoid arthritis, is very common among the elderly and, while it has been identified as an autoimmune disease, the exact factors that cause the body to attack itself are not actually known. This is true of many of the other more than a hundred different rheumatoid diseases that are classified as arthritis.

However, while the exact causes of most types of arthritis have not been determined, a number of risk factors have been found.

Injury, Obesity, and Wear and Tear

One of the most common risk factors for arthritis is the over-use of a joint or a previous injury. These sorts of factors can lead to a degenerative arthritis, like osteoarthritis, but have also been found to be related to other types of arthritis.

Those who preform regular high impact exercises or sports, for instance, have a much higher rate of developing arthritis later in life. Certain professions, such as those who work in agriculture or construction, are also more likely to develop arthritis. Minute repetitive motions, like typing, can also result in a higher risk of arthritis.

In those who experience injuries, the area that was injured is much more likely to have arthritis later in life as well.

Obesity, which is a huge problem in the United States, can have a major impact on health and increases the risk of a number of diseases, including heart disease. Obesity is, no pun intended, a growing problem in America, with the percent of obesity nearly doubling since 1960.

In terms of arthritis, the added weight put on joints, especially weight bearing ones like the hips and knees, results in a much higher risk of osteoarthritis, as well as several other kinds of arthritis.

Gender and Genetics

As there is still much that is not known in regards to arthritis, many of the factors that have been identified as potential causes have not been fully researched or proven. However, a number of observations have been made that indicate an increased risk for arthritis in certain people and genders.

Woman, for instance, have a much higher instance of arthritis than men, aside from a few of the less common types of arthritis. Aside from these few rare types, woman are otherwise essentially across the board develop arthritis more often than men.

A number of genes have been identified which, while not directly linked to causing arthritis, have been found to increase the risk for developing it.

There have also been families that have been found to have a higher risk of certain types of arthritis, so in at least some ways, arthritis can be a hereditary disease. Often, the risk of arthritis is related to another factor in the family line, however. As an example, some families have an increased risk for congenital birth defects, such as a displaced hip. This, in turn, increases the risk that arthritis will begin to develop at some point during the child’s life.

Age

Many people consider arthritis to be an elderly disease and there is some truth to it, as senior arthritis is very common and those who are over fifty are more likely to develop some sort of rheumatoid disease. Even though even children can develop arthritis, as the body ages, the risk of degenerative arthritis becomes much more common, as well as several other types of arthritis.

One theory is that as the body ages, the cartilage looses some of the fluid that naturally protects it, drying it out and making it prone to deterioration, as well as making it more brittle.