More young adults are developing osteoarthritis – here’s how we can spot those at risk before the damage is done

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Research suggests young, active people are increasingly being diagnosed with osteoarthritis at much earlier ages than many expect. I have seen its effects first-hand among my own friends. One, a keen marathon runner, developed stage 2 osteoarthritis in her mid-30s. Several well-known public figures, including Robbie Williams, Tiger Woods and Andy Murray, have also spoken openly about experiencing the condition relatively young.

Osteoarthritis is often dismissed as an inevitable consequence of ageing...