As is usual with arthritis, the answer isn't that simple.
Osteoarthritis is multi-factorial - there are many different variables that determine the wear on joints: Weight, genetics, fitness, work, injury - they all have their say.
Each also occurs in varying degrees.
There is a little overweight and there is a lot.
There are some occupations that may slightly annoy the knee joints and there are others that have a much stronger negative effect.
The same can be said for injuries.
Breaking a bone never does you any favours, but if the break is confined to the shaft of the bones, once all is healed, you should not have significantly increased your risk of arthritis.
Break that same bone through the joint surface - called an intra-articular fracture - and it is a different story altogether.
Our joints are made super-smooth to allow painless weight-bearing and movement for the thousands of steps we do every day.
Break this surface and even after healing it will not be perfectly smooth again.
Even the slightest rough edge greatly increases the rate of wear in that joint.
Many people are surprised after a broken leg to find that their future mobility will potentially be affected.
Key-hole surgery for cartilage (meniscus) tears also increases the risk of arthritis as the function of the meniscus is to absorb shock and protect the joint surfaces.
The former practice of removing the entire meniscus was more damaging but even partial removal has been shown to lead to higher future rates of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is multi-factorial - there are many different variables that determine the wear on joints: Weight, genetics, fitness, work, injury - they all have their say.
Each also occurs in varying degrees.
There is a little overweight and there is a lot.
There are some occupations that may slightly annoy the knee joints and there are others that have a much stronger negative effect.
The same can be said for injuries.
Breaking a bone never does you any favours, but if the break is confined to the shaft of the bones, once all is healed, you should not have significantly increased your risk of arthritis.
Break that same bone through the joint surface - called an intra-articular fracture - and it is a different story altogether.
Our joints are made super-smooth to allow painless weight-bearing and movement for the thousands of steps we do every day.
Break this surface and even after healing it will not be perfectly smooth again.
Even the slightest rough edge greatly increases the rate of wear in that joint.
Many people are surprised after a broken leg to find that their future mobility will potentially be affected.
Key-hole surgery for cartilage (meniscus) tears also increases the risk of arthritis as the function of the meniscus is to absorb shock and protect the joint surfaces.
The former practice of removing the entire meniscus was more damaging but even partial removal has been shown to lead to higher future rates of osteoarthritis.