391. Arthritis makes it hard for many people to perform their jobs
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
An adult suffering from arthritis – whether it’s their knee, hip, shoulder, neck or back – is 20 percent less likely to be working than someone without arthritis. This is one of the findings from a new study published in the journal Social Science & Medicine. UK researchers matched a group of 18,000 people with arthritis to a control group of 18,000 people without arthritis but similar in every other way. The researchers observed that as people with arthritis reach middle age, their likelihood of being able to work diminishes at a faster rate than those who do not have the condition. Once both men and women reach age 60, their chances of working when living with arthritis drop dramatically. The only group not affected were those employed in professional work, such as lawyers or accountants.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
