I read an interesting article this morning about the relationship between childhood abuse and osteoarthritis. According to researchers at the University of Toronto, physical abuse at a young age leads to an increased risk of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis, the gradual weakening of the cartilage surrounding a joint, causes stiff and painful knees, ankles, fingers or hips.

 

The researchers looked at a 2005 Canadian health questionnaire that surveyed 11,108 men and women. Just about 10 percent had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, and nearly seven percent reported being physically abused as a child. The group with osteoarthritis was almost two times more likely to have been physical abuse. The researchers called this correlation "unexpectedly robust."

 

So add arthritis to the growing list of complications that can occur from child abuse. Previous studies have linked abuse with an increased incidence of everything from depression to mental illness to cancer. Some of the relationships intuitively make more sense than others; I was pretty surprised to see a study relating abuse and cancer. But it goes to show just how devastating abuse can be.

 

The article got me thinking. If childhood abuse can have an influence on osteoarthritis -something so seemingly unconnected - what other negative impacts could it have? If it can contribute to joint pain, how else can it damage us?  I know we don't need more motivation to fight against child abuse, but here's yet another reason.  The full article can be found here.