Home > Arthritis > How to avoid arthritis Get the Flash Player to see this player. Rate: (Click the stars to rate) Published on Jun 23, 2008 by TSculco, Views: 3736 Dr Thomas Sculco, from the Hospital for Special Surgery, discusses how to avoid arthritis. Obesity and being overweight increases the strain on the joints. So controlling body weight can slow the progression of arthritis. Regular exercise can also slow the progression.