Javelin world champ Steve Backley is backing a London Independent Hospital health campaign to raise people’s awareness of Osteoarthritis, after having his own hip replacement.

He has joined the ‘Active for Life’ programme launched by the hospital in Stepney Green which aims to reduce the growing number of people having knee, hip and other joint replacement caused by arthritis.

The Olympic champ underwent a replacement back in 2005 and knows about the pain before surgery.

“My need for a replacement left me in pain and reduced mobility,” he recalled. “But the surgery has given me back my freedom and movement.

“This campaign highlights the importance of bone and joint health to help more people lead an active life and reduce the risk of needing surgery as they age.”

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis with an estimated one-million people going to their GP every year, the National Joint Registry has shown.

A survey by hospital found 85 per cent of people questioned in Tower Hamlets knew someone or had a relative who had undergone a replacement, mostly resulting from arthritis or osteoporosis, while most claimed they had never been given advice from their GP on how to look after their bones and joints.

The hospital’s consultant Orthopaedic surgeon David Goodier said: “It’s not always possible to prevent osteoarthritis, but people can minimise the risk by watching their weight, avoiding injury and keeping bones and joints as healthy as possible.”

An advice line has been set up as part of the campaign for anyone with joint pain or in need of an orthopaedic replacement, on 080-8101 0373.