Heredity and age do influence whether people will develop osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. However, making healthy lifestyle choices just may help prevent or delay this painful and debilitating disease.

Osteoarthritis involves the wearing away of cartilage that protects bones,� says Good Samaritan rheumatologist Carol Ziminski, MD . To protect joints, she suggests trying the following strategies:

• Lose excess weight. In one study, overweight women who lost extra pounds significantly reduced their risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knees.
• Exercise regularly. Studies show that many people with arthritis shy away from physical activity. But don�t let it stop you. Exercise helps keep bones, joints and muscles healthy. Swimming and walking are two especially joint-friendly activities. But many other exercises also can be safe for the joints. Just don�t overdo it.
• Weight train to strengthen muscles. Researchers found that older people with weak quadriceps, or front thigh muscles, were more likely to have osteoarthritis of the knee. Even a relatively small increase in quadricep strength was found to lower the risk of osteoarthritis by 20 to 30 percent.
• Play it safe. Joint problems caused by injuries or overuse increase the risk of osteoarthritis.
• Seek treatment right away, if necessary. See a doctor if you have pain, stiffness or swelling in or around a joint for more than two weeks,� says Dr. Ziminski. Do the same if you have trouble moving a joint, since early treatment for arthritis may slow or prevent joint damage.