The young are not exempt…lifestyle rules to prevent osteoarthritis
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St. Peter's Hospital 26-07-01 00:00Main content
The young are not exempt…lifestyle rules to prevent osteoarthritis
Reporter Ha, Ji Su
Posted 2026.07.01 15:31
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Avoid squatting and sitting cross-legged in daily life
To prevent osteoarthritis, it is best to avoid excessive caffeine and salt intake and to eat antioxidant-rich foods consistently. [Source: Gettyimagesbank]
To prevent osteoarthritis, it is best to avoid excessive caffeine and salt intake and to eat antioxidant-rich foods consistently. [Source: Gettyimagesbank]
A disease that affects 600 million people worldwide and arises mainly in joints that are used heavily or bear a heavy load, such as the knees, hands and hips — this is osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is common in Korea as well. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of osteoarthritis patients in 2024 reached 3.28 million. Among people in their 60s and 70s in particular it is common enough to be the second most frequent cause of hospital admission after cataracts. Kang, Seung-Baik, Director and orthopedic specialist at the Knee Joint Center of St. Peter's Hospital, explained, “The reality is that a considerable proportion of patients aged 60 and over who come to the hospital with knee or back problems are diagnosed with osteoarthritis.”
It occurs mainly in older people, but younger people cannot be complacent either, because a variety of factors act together in the development of osteoarthritis, including changes in the articular cartilage, inflammation and structural changes in the cartilage and bone. Anyone with a history of joint damage or injury, such as an athlete, can well develop osteoarthritis even at a young age.
Suspect it if the knee makes noise when walking
The warning signs of osteoarthritis are pain, swelling, stiffness and restricted joint movement. Symptoms generally progress slowly and gradually, but they can worsen rapidly if a fall or injury damages the ligaments around the joint. As symptoms worsen, the joint becomes unusable and pain is felt even at rest.
Among the various joints, the knee is where osteoarthritis occurs most often, because body weight is concentrated on it and it is the joint used most in daily life. Those with osteoarthritis experience symptoms such as ▶knee pain and swelling after walking for a long time ▶difficulty going up and down stairs because of pain ▶the knee failing to straighten properly when standing up after sitting ▶a sound from the knee when walking.
When osteoarthritis is diagnosed at the hospital, different treatments are applied according to how far the disease has progressed and to the patient’s condition. In the early stages of the disease, appropriate exercise and lifestyle improvement are usually undertaken. Next, conservative treatment such as drug therapy, physiotherapy and exercise therapy is provided. If the effect is minimal, pain and inflammation are controlled with medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, combined with heat packs, electrical nerve stimulation and rehabilitative therapy to maintain joint function.
Where the pain becomes severe enough to interfere with daily life, or there is no clear response to conservative treatment, surgical treatment is carried out. Arthroscopic debridement and microfracture surgery to regenerate damaged areas of articular cartilage, along with stem cell transplantation surgery, are among the main options.
30 minutes of walking and cycling help
The progression of osteoarthritis can be slowed and its symptoms eased through measures such as weight control. Director Kang, Seung-Baik set out the key rules for knee joint health as ▶maintaining an appropriate body weight and good eating habits ▶exercising regularly ▶avoiding everyday postures that are bad for the joints ▶giving up smoking and alcohol ▶managing the condition early with compresses when pain appears.
Among these, everyday postures that are bad for the joints include squatting, sitting cross-legged and crossing the legs, all of which put strain on particular areas. When sitting, it is best to use a chair or sofa rather than the floor so as to minimize knee flexion, and to avoid excessive caffeine and salt. Instead, eat a good balance of antioxidant foods that suppress inflammation.
Exercise is best practised consistently, within a range that does not strain the joints. About 30 minutes a day of light walking on level ground or riding a stationary bicycle helps strengthen the muscles around the joints and prevent stiffness. However, going up and down stairs, or squatting to lift heavy objects, can place a heavy burden on the knees and should be avoided. When the joints feel stiff or painful during exercise, hot or cold compresses can ease the symptoms; and if pain persists or swelling does not subside after exercise, you should see a specialist for care immediately.
Reporter Ha, Ji Su ha.jisu@joongang.co.kr
Reporter Ha, Ji Su
Posted 2026.07.01 15:31
More sharing options
Save article
Font size
Avoid squatting and sitting cross-legged in daily life
To prevent osteoarthritis, it is best to avoid excessive caffeine and salt intake and to eat antioxidant-rich foods consistently. [Source: Gettyimagesbank]
To prevent osteoarthritis, it is best to avoid excessive caffeine and salt intake and to eat antioxidant-rich foods consistently. [Source: Gettyimagesbank]
A disease that affects 600 million people worldwide and arises mainly in joints that are used heavily or bear a heavy load, such as the knees, hands and hips — this is osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is common in Korea as well. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of osteoarthritis patients in 2024 reached 3.28 million. Among people in their 60s and 70s in particular it is common enough to be the second most frequent cause of hospital admission after cataracts. Kang, Seung-Baik, Director and orthopedic specialist at the Knee Joint Center of St. Peter's Hospital, explained, “The reality is that a considerable proportion of patients aged 60 and over who come to the hospital with knee or back problems are diagnosed with osteoarthritis.”
It occurs mainly in older people, but younger people cannot be complacent either, because a variety of factors act together in the development of osteoarthritis, including changes in the articular cartilage, inflammation and structural changes in the cartilage and bone. Anyone with a history of joint damage or injury, such as an athlete, can well develop osteoarthritis even at a young age.
Suspect it if the knee makes noise when walking
The warning signs of osteoarthritis are pain, swelling, stiffness and restricted joint movement. Symptoms generally progress slowly and gradually, but they can worsen rapidly if a fall or injury damages the ligaments around the joint. As symptoms worsen, the joint becomes unusable and pain is felt even at rest.
Among the various joints, the knee is where osteoarthritis occurs most often, because body weight is concentrated on it and it is the joint used most in daily life. Those with osteoarthritis experience symptoms such as ▶knee pain and swelling after walking for a long time ▶difficulty going up and down stairs because of pain ▶the knee failing to straighten properly when standing up after sitting ▶a sound from the knee when walking.
When osteoarthritis is diagnosed at the hospital, different treatments are applied according to how far the disease has progressed and to the patient’s condition. In the early stages of the disease, appropriate exercise and lifestyle improvement are usually undertaken. Next, conservative treatment such as drug therapy, physiotherapy and exercise therapy is provided. If the effect is minimal, pain and inflammation are controlled with medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, combined with heat packs, electrical nerve stimulation and rehabilitative therapy to maintain joint function.
Where the pain becomes severe enough to interfere with daily life, or there is no clear response to conservative treatment, surgical treatment is carried out. Arthroscopic debridement and microfracture surgery to regenerate damaged areas of articular cartilage, along with stem cell transplantation surgery, are among the main options.
30 minutes of walking and cycling help
The progression of osteoarthritis can be slowed and its symptoms eased through measures such as weight control. Director Kang, Seung-Baik set out the key rules for knee joint health as ▶maintaining an appropriate body weight and good eating habits ▶exercising regularly ▶avoiding everyday postures that are bad for the joints ▶giving up smoking and alcohol ▶managing the condition early with compresses when pain appears.
Among these, everyday postures that are bad for the joints include squatting, sitting cross-legged and crossing the legs, all of which put strain on particular areas. When sitting, it is best to use a chair or sofa rather than the floor so as to minimize knee flexion, and to avoid excessive caffeine and salt. Instead, eat a good balance of antioxidant foods that suppress inflammation.
Exercise is best practised consistently, within a range that does not strain the joints. About 30 minutes a day of light walking on level ground or riding a stationary bicycle helps strengthen the muscles around the joints and prevent stiffness. However, going up and down stairs, or squatting to lift heavy objects, can place a heavy burden on the knees and should be avoided. When the joints feel stiff or painful during exercise, hot or cold compresses can ease the symptoms; and if pain persists or swelling does not subside after exercise, you should see a specialist for care immediately.
Reporter Ha, Ji Su ha.jisu@joongang.co.kr