Which of the following is a risk factor for OA related to activity?

• A. Physically demanding occupations
• B. Metabolic changes within the body
• C. Cutting sports
• D. History of trauma/ surgery at joint

Answer: (C)

OA risk from activity arises when joints are subjected to repeated, high-stress loading that wears cartilage over time. Cutting sports involve rapid direction changes and sudden pivots, which generate large joint forces and shear with each move. This repetitive, high-load pattern stresses the knee (and other weight-bearing joints) in ways that accelerate cartilage degeneration, making cutting sports a clear example of an activity-related risk factor. In contrast, metabolic changes are systemic factors not tied to joint loading, and a history of trauma or surgery is a past event rather than ongoing activity; while physically demanding jobs can contribute to OA, the specific, dynamic cutting motions provide a distinct, direct link between activity and joint wear.