Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the world. In 2004, OA was estimated to affect over 1.6 million Australians, with total costs of $1.4 billion. OA is the most frequent reason for joint replacement, at a cost of about $1 billion each year. Conventional treatment is palliative and costly, and currently there are no effective medical remedies for OA. These facts have led to 2000-2010 being labelled the Bone and Joint decade, and musculoskeletal disorders being recognised as a National Health Priority. The primary task for OA management should be to identify modifiable risk factors.