It hurts when you walk or climb the stairs, slice meat or brush your teeth - that's the reality of arthritis. Family history plays a role in your risk, and so does age: The chance of developing many types of arthritis, including the most common, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, increases the older you get.Those factors you can't control. But you can take steps to protect your joints and reduce your risk of arthritis:ExerciseRegular exercise strengthens the muscles around joints, which helps keep them from rubbing against one another and wearing down cartilage; it also helps increase bone density, improve flexibility …