Top Ten Arthritis Myths
10 Things That Don't Cause Arthritis
By Judi Ketteler
According to the Arthritis Foundation one in five adults, or 46 million Americans, have been diagnosed with arthritis. There are two main types of arthritis: osteoarthritis (the most common) and rheumatoid arthritis. Conditions like lupus, like gout, and fibromyalgia also fall under the arthritis umbrella. Many things can cause arthritis -- namely genetics, sedentary lifestyles, and joint injury. However, many of the things we think cause arthritis in fact don't, says Patience White, M.D., chief public health officer for the Arthritis Foundation.
Click the gallery below to learn the ten things that don't cause arthritis.
Arthritis Myths
Lack of Calcium
Calcium is key to preventing osteoporosis -- a disease of the bones (not the joints). And it's true that people with osteoporosis sometimes get arthritis, but inadequate calcium is not an arthritis risk factor. That's no reason to skimp on your calcium: follow the CDC guidelines to make sure you're getting enough.
Cracking Your Joints
As arthritis myths go this is a biggie, White says. When you "crack" a joint you're actually either snapping the ligament over the joint or pulling on the joint, which causes a negative nitrogen bubble. "You're not cracking the bone, just manipulating the joint to make it feel better," White says.
Damp Weather
"The incidence of arthritis is worldwide, whether you live in the desert or the tundra," White says. Cold, rainy weather might make you less comfortable -- and if you suffer from painful arthritis, anything that makes you less comfortable makes it worse. However, the weather itself has no impact on whether or not you'll develop the disease.
Being "Double-Jointed"
The term "double-jointed" is actually a misnomer. "Nobody has two joints where they should have one," White says. Some people have hyper-mobility (or extra flexibility) in their joints, but there's no evidence to suggest this causes arthritis. However, it could cause other injuries (like sprains, strains, and tears) if you're not careful.
Your Diet
Certain diets can worsen arthritis and certain diets and supplements (such as fish oil) may well help arthritis -- especially rheumatoid arthritis. Many foods are thought to be inflammatory -- such as high-fat, high-sugar foods -- and avoiding them could help improve your existing arthritis, but eating them won't bring it.
Strenuous Exercise
Exercise -- including strenuous exercise such as marathon running or triathlons -- absolutely does not cause arthritis, White says. In fact, exercise has been shown to decrease the progression of arthritis. The caveat: if you get an exercise-related injury that you don't properly rehab (such as a recurring ankle sprain) you can be at risk for developing arthritis in that joint.
Immunizations
This is a hot issue, White says, but the Arthritis Foundation's position is that immunizations -- particularly rubella -- do not cause arthritis. "The data is not there," she says. Certain immunizations can cause some short-term joint aching, but it's not the same thing, she says.
Bad Posture
As with stress, prolonged bad posture can cause stiffness, pain, and headaches -- none of which are fun. But, it won't make you develop arthritis. However, poor posture can cause low back pain, so it's always a good idea to take measures to improve posture (such as yoga and Pilates).
Stress
Stress is a tricky one because prolonged stress can weaken the body and compromise its ability to respond to joint pain. Plus, when you're under stress your body releases cortisol. Some people tend to eat more when cortisol is released and weight gain is a cause of arthritis. But, the tenseness and stiffness you feel from stress won't actually cause arthritis.
Age
Age is not a direct cause of arthritis, White says. Case in point: there are 300,000 children with juvenile arthritis. However, as you age you're more likely to start to develop some of the risk factors that are linked to arthritis, such as weight gain.
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Jen9292 05:21:19 AM Apr 13 2009
I have had arthritis since I was 2 years old and I believe cracking my knuckles when I was younger obviously didn't cause it but I have always thought it made it worse. Also, the weather might not cause it but it absolutely makes the pain worse when the weather is cold, damp, or if it's raining or going to rain.
Katelyn0670 12:45:19 AM Apr 13 2009
14 here and i have Arthritis in my toe! :] LOLAlso i may have in my hands because I write wayy to hard in school! im not lying
Dudejmpjr 12:39:54 AM Apr 13 2009
Dude im going on 20 soon and i pop my elbows my back knuckles legs ankles toes neck you name it and never hurt yet always feels alot better so half you got some genetic crap down the line from long time ago or something.
signbrat04 11:44:53 PM Apr 12 2009
I have been cracking my hands since i was 13 it actually good for my hands becuase I use my hand so often use for commucate (deaf) sign lanuage and I have been doing it everyday when i dont crack them it was so painful so i had to crack them everyday it made the airsocket in the joints goaway I totally agree and i am very very relief this findings!
Libdamage 10:08:20 PM Apr 12 2009
By the time you are old enough to have to worry about arthritis, there wil probably be many cures for it, not just one.Possible examples might be, Adult stem cell research which is already regrowing previously untreatable ligaments in injured horses.Nano technology which when perfected should eb able to repair just about any injury from the inside out in a matter of hours or minutes (depending on the extent of the injury or disease etc...).Or possible regrowing of body parts custom ordered in the hospital in about 24-48 hours (this treatment is expected to be available by about 2050, and the others should be a reality, much sooner then that). 1999999999999999999799999999999991oooooooJ is for Jason8D 01:30:26 AM Feb 26 2009 Im 14 years old and I hope I dont get arthritis xP
Wsorrian 09:47:59 PM Apr 12 2009
Tchunksdog 08:12:34 PM Feb 25 2009 Report This! cracking your knuckles DEFINITELY causes arthritis...........Bull! You want a study? Here's one. I've cracked my knuckles, back, neck, wrists, shoulders, elbows, knees, and even my hip from time to time for 30 years and I have absolutely no sign of arthritis at all. My grandfather does the same thing, but going on 70 years. No arthiritis. My father has done it for around 50 years. I have friends of all ages that do it and the largest group of people that I know of, who have arthritis, are those who played too many sports. Of those who played sports alot AND cracked knuckles, ZERO had arthritis in their hands. It was mainly in their knees and ankles. There is absolutely no evidence that cracking knuckles has ever caused arthritis.
pnutbutrngele 08:58:04 PM Apr 12 2009
but does cracking your knuckles cause them to get larger?
Vixen5757 11:13:29 AM Mar 15 2009
While the article says age doesn't cause arthritis, I can tell you that I definitely have more pain in my joints than I did when I was in my teens and twenties. I broke a bone in my wrist about ten years back and it hurts whenever there is low pressure, like a storm coming. I don't associate it with dampness, just low barometric pressure. I also think there is something to the combination of fish oil, glucosamine/chondroitin, ginger treatment. For some reason, fish oil seems to help with depression as well.Fresh ginger tea also eases stomach problems for me.This regimen must be maintained however.Can't just take these things once and think they will work.
doritos422 02:19:28 AM Feb 26 2009
ok the whole cracking knuckles thing-- your interphalangeal joints are synovial joints, meaning they are fluid-filled. When you pull on your finger to crack a knuckle, you're causing the volume in the joint to rapidly increase and the pressure on the synovial fluid to decrease. Therefore the gasses dissolved in the fluid come out of solution and they form bubbles, until the pressure drops so low that the bubbles burst, creating that popping/cracking sound. The gasses redissolve within 30 minutes. Simple as that. Completely harmless.
J is for Jason8D 01:30:26 AM Feb 26 2009
Im 14 years old and I hope I dont get arthritis xP
