Can kneeling down for long periods of time lead to osteoarthritis?

Dear Ask The Doctor: Can osteoarthritis be caused by kneeling down for hours on end working, for over 27years i was a welder and have just been diagnosed with the prolem

Dear William: Osteoarthritis is caused due to increased wear and tear and reabsorption of the bone which then leads to the symptoms of pain on exertion. While kneeling down for long hours cannot directly cause osteoarthritis it can lead to worsening of the symptoms and the condition. You need to get an xray done to see the progression and also start on medication for the same. All the best.