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10-Jun-2026
Arthritis is a widespread health challenge, serving as the leading cause of disability in the United States.1 It’s a condition that affects nearly 60 million adults and children across the country.1 This impact is only expected to grow, with projections suggesting that 78 million people will be living with the condition by 2040.2
Despite its prevalence, arthritis is widely misunderstood. In this article, we're clearing up some misconceptions, because knowing the truth is the first step toward getting the right care. By clearing up common misunderstandings, more people may be able to find the path to effective care and essential medical technologies.
Misconception: Arthritis is a single disease.
Reality: Arthritis is an umbrella term for more than 100 conditions that affect the joints and surrounding tissue.2
What they share are inflammation, pain and a progressive erosion of quality of life.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form, affecting an estimated 32.5 million U.S. adults. It's a degenerative condition driven by the breakdown of cartilage, the cushioning tissue that allows joints to move smoothly. As cartilage wears away, bone begins to rub against bone, causing pain, stiffness, swelling and eventually a significant loss of mobility. The hip and knee are among the joints most commonly and most severely affected.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) works differently. Rather than wear and tear, RA is an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation that damages bone and cartilage over time.
Post-traumatic arthritis, a third common form, develops in a joint following an injury such as a fracture or ligament tear and can emerge years after the original trauma.
All three conditions can progress to a point where they significantly impair the hip or knee and may ultimately require surgical intervention.
Misconception: Arthritis is exclusively a condition of old age.
Reality: About two-thirds of those living with arthritis are aged 65 and under.1
And as many as 88% of people report that arthritis affects their quality of life.
For those living with hip or knee arthritis, the daily reality can be relentless, and when conservative treatments — physical therapy, medications, injections — no longer provide adequate relief, joint replacement surgery becomes a meaningful option worth exploring.
Misconception: Arthritis is just a little joint stiffness. No big deal.
Reality: For millions of people, arthritis isn't a minor inconvenience.
It's the reason they can't open a jar, button a shirt, walk to the mailbox or sleep through the night. It's chronic, progressive and sometimes completely debilitating. You can look completely fine and be in significant pain. The gap between what arthritis looks like from the outside and what it feels like from the inside is wide, and that gap is exactly why so many people suffer longer than they should before seeking treatment.
Misconception: Knee and hip joint replacement surgery is a last resort for the most extreme cases.
Reality: Knee and hip joint replacement has advanced significantly, especially in recent years, and for the right candidates can be the most effective path.
Over 50% of people with knee osteoarthritis will undergo a total knee replacement during their lifetime, and 99% of all hip and knee replacements are performed specifically to address pain and functional limitations. Many patients who pursue joint replacement wish they had done it sooner. But it is not right for everyone.
How Mako SmartRobotics™ is enhancing joint replacement
When knee and hip replacement is the right path, the technology behind it matters. Stryker's Mako SmartRobotics™ system represents an advancement in joint replacement with more than 2 million Mako procedures performed globally, systems installed in 46 countries, 19+ years of robotic-arm assisted surgery experience, 800+ contributions to the global scientific record and 2,000+ patents established worldwide.
“As the industry continues to evolve, Stryker is expanding our capabilities across orthopaedic specialties,” said Katherine Truppi, President of Stryker’s Joint Replacement division. “Surgeons, patients and their caregivers are seeking more solutions, and these innovations are designed to do just that – helping patients get back to the activities they love.”
What makes Mako SmartRobotics™ different for knee and hip procedures
Step 1 - Scan
It starts before surgery begins. Using a CT scan of your unique anatomy, Mako's 3D planning software allows your surgeon to build a personalized surgical plan before ever entering the operating room, planning implant size, orientation and alignment based on your individual anatomy.
Step 2 - Plan
During the procedure, the surgeon guides Mako's robotic arm to remove arthritic bone and cartilage, while AccuStop™ technology creates a virtual boundary that provides tactile feedback to help the surgeon stay within the boundaries defined in the surgical plan. Throughout the procedure, Mako provides real-time data, allowing the surgeon to assess joint movement and tension and adjust as needed.
Step 3 - Mako Can
The outcomes are meaningful. In some studies, robotic-arm assisted procedures have been associated with improvements in certain early recovery measures, including less pain and shorter recovery times compared to traditional surgery.3-9
Surgery is not appropriate for everyone and outcomes vary. Decision-making is individualized and physician-led.
The bottom line
If conservative treatments are no longer working, joint replacement surgery has come a long way. And with Mako, patients have access to more precision and personalization that is not available with manual surgery.
Getting back to some of the activities you love starts with understanding your options. Talk to your doctor to find out whether Mako robotic-arm assisted surgery might be right for you.
References:
1. Williams, A. (2024, May 1). Arthritis awareness month. Arthritis Foundation. https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/arthritis-awareness-month
2. Eze B, Green JT, Asante R, Okobi OE, Mercene KGF, Ogbodo CT, Anamazobi EG, Alozie AS. Trends in Arthritis Prevalence and Associated Chronic Health Indicators Among Adults: Insights From the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Database. Cureus. 2024 Apr 24;16(4):e58925. doi: 10.7759/cureus.58925. PMID: 38800280; PMCID: PMC11122663. Accessed via https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11122663/
3. Suarez-Ahedo, C; Gui, C; Martin, T; Chandrasekaran, S; Domb, B. Robotic arm assisted total hip arthoplasty results in smaller acetabular cup size in relation to the femoral head size: A Matched-Pair Controlled Study. Hip Int. 2017; 27 (2): 147-152. 2. Haddad, F.S, et al. Iatrogenic Bone and Soft Tissue Trauma in Robotic-Arm Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty Compared With Conventional Jig-Based Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Cohort Study and Validation of a New Classification System. J Arthroplasty. 2018 Aug;33(8):2496-2501. Epub 2018 Mar 27. 3. Hozack WJ, Chen AF, Khlopas A, et al. Multicenter analysis of outcomes after robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty. Presented at: The Knee Society (TKS) 2018 Members Meeting; September 20-22, 2018; Saint Louis, MO.
4. Banks, Scott A, PhD. Haptic Robotics Enable a Systems Approach to Design of a Minimally Invasive Modular Knee Arthroplasty. Am J Orthop. 2009;38(2 suppl):23-27. February 2009.
5. Hampp E, Chang TC, Pearle A. Robotic partial knee arthroplasty demonstrated greater bone preservation compared to robotic total knee arthroplasty. Annual Orthopaedic Research Society. Austin, TX. 2-5 Feb 2019.
6. Kayani B, Konan S, Tahmassebi J, Rowan F, Haddad F. An assessment of early functional rehabilitation and hospital discharge in conventional versus robotic-arm assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:24–33
7. Kayani B, Konan S, Tahmassebi J, Pietrzak J, Haddad F. Robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty is associated with improved early functional recovery and reduced time to hospital discharge compared with conventional jig-based total knee arthroplasty: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY Bone and Joint Journal: 2018; 100-B:930–7.
8. Shibanuma N, Ishida K, Matsumoto T, et al. Early postoperative clinical recovery of robotic arm-assisted vs. image-based navigated Total hip Arthroplasty. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021;22(1):314.
9. Fontalis A, Kayani B, Asokan A, et al. Inflammatory Response in Robotic-Arm-Assisted Versus Conventional Jig-Based TKA and the Correlation with Early Functional Outcomes: Results of a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2022;104(21):1905-1914. doi:10.2106/JBJS.22.00167
Visit MakoCan.com and talk to a healthcare professional for important safety information.
The information presented is for educational purposes only. Speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is appropriate for you. Individual results vary and not all patients will return to the same activity level. The lifetime of any joint replacement is limited and depends on several factors like patient weight and activity level. Your doctor will counsel you about strategies to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device, including avoiding high-impact activities, such as running, as well as maintaining a healthy weight. It is important to closely follow your doctor’s instructions regarding post-surgery activity, treatment and follow-up care. Ask your doctor if a joint replacement is right for you.
Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: AccuStop, Mako, SmartRobotics, Stryker. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.
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