Since the root cause of OA is unknown, there is no known way to prevent its occurrence. However, you can reduce your risk factors if you have them. If you are overweight, lose weight and if you have a job or hobby that places a lot of stress on your joints, you can take measures to reduce that stress. It is still unclear how exercise affects the development of OA; some studies suggest that certain activities contribute to the development of OA while other studies conclude that exercise can help prevent OA from occurring.