Surgery in hospitals for worn-out joints might be an option we’d all hope to access if needed but there’s no guarantees that it will always be available.
What are the options locally?
An expert on risk factors for osteo-arthritis and joint replacement says that Australia’s obesity epidemic is amongst the biggest factors.
Joint wear is caused not only by weight and pressur on bones but also by how much fat a person carries. Fat mass can contribute to the onset of osteoarthritis the cause of 70-90% of all hip and knee replacements.
The fat mass is probably acting like an endocrine organ producing different chemicals that can damage the joint further.
So this is yet another reason for us to address the obesity epidemic urgently.