Osteoarthritis (OA) occurs with increasing frequency as people age. About 10 percent of all adults have some knee OA by age 55. Most people have some arthritis by the time they turn 65. Studies show X-ray changes associated with OA occur in 80 percent of all people by age 75.

OA is the most common disease affecting joints in the world. About 21 million Americans have been diagnosed with OA. This number is expected to increase even more over the next 10 to 15 years.

Your chances of having symptoms from OA will increase as you age. However, there are a small number of people who never suffer from this disease. You may be one of them!