In Osteoarthritis, which joints are commonly considered weight-bearing joints?

• A. Knee, hips, lumbar spine
• B. MCP joints
• C. Weight-bearing joints such as knee and hip
• D. Elbow

Answer: (C)

Weight-bearing joints are the ones that endure the most mechanical load during standing and walking, so they are the joints most affected by degenerative changes in osteoarthritis. The knee and hip are classic examples of these weight-bearing joints; they transmit most of the body's weight with movement, which drives the usual OA pattern. The other options point to joints that aren’t primarily weight-bearing in daily locomotion—the MCP joints are small hand joints more typical of other conditions, and the elbow is not a major weight-bearing joint. While the lumbar spine can bear load and can be involved in OA, the knee and hip best capture the common weight-bearing pattern looked for in this context.