Figure 1. The role of mechanical loading in osteoarthritis.

Biomechanical factors have been implicated in many hypotheses on the etiology and pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, either due to abnormal loading acting on normal physiology, or normal loading acting in the presence of abnormal physiology. It is important to note that many of these risk factors (e.g., obesity) involve both biomechanical and physiologic influences. Adapted from [100], with permission.