Which factor is not a common risk for the progression of OA at the knee?

The progression of osteoarthritis (OA) at the knee is heavily influenced by factors that increase the stress or load on the knee joint, particularly in certain compartments. In this context, excessive joint loading is largely associated with the medial compartment of the knee, which is where the majority of knee OA cases occur. Factors such as weight gain and greater adduction moments during walking contribute to increased stress on this compartment.

Excessive joint loading in the lateral compartment, on the other hand, is not typically a common risk factor for the progression of OA at the knee. While it is possible for lateral compartment OA to occur, the most significant and prevalent risk factors involve loads and stresses that affect the medial side of the knee. Therefore, loading specifically on the lateral compartment does not significantly contribute to the overall risk for OA progression in the same way that factors affecting the medial side do. This distinction makes the excessive joint loading in the lateral compartment an outlier in the context of common OA progression risk factors.