Overview
Arthritis is inflammation of a joint. Symptoms of arthritis may include pain, swelling, redness, warmth, and limitation of movement.
There are over 100 types of arthritis. Three common types are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.
- Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the cartilage that protects and cushions joints breaks down over time. Eventually, the bones—formerly separated by the cartilage—rub against each other, resulting in damage to the tissue and underlying bone and causing painful joint symptoms.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammation of the membranes or tissues lining the joints. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis may destroy the joint tissues, including cartilage, ligaments, tendons and bone, and, in rare but severe cases, may cause organ damage.
- Gouty arthritis (gout) is an inflammatory joint disease that causes acute pain and swelling. It is a form of arthritis that develops when uric acid crystals form in and around the joints, commonly affecting the big toe joint (this symptom is called podagra). People who have gout may have a very painful attack in one or two joints followed by the total disappearance of all symptoms until the next attack.
What Are the Most Common Types of Arthritis?
There are three prevalent forms of arthritis, along with a number of less common forms and related disorders. These include:
- Osteoarthritis
This is the most common type of arthritis. It is a chronic disease involving the joints, particularly the weight-bearing joints such as the knee, hip, and spine. Osteoarthritis is characterized by the following:
- Destruction of cartilage
- Overgrowth of bone
- Spur formation
- Impaired function
It occurs in most people as they age, but also may occur in young people as a result of injury or overuse of joints.
- Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic, widespread pain in muscles and soft tissues surrounding the joints throughout the body.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that involves the lining of the joint (synovium) and affects about 2.1 million people in the United States. The inflammation often affects the joints of the hands and the feet and tends to occur equally on both sides of the body.
- Other forms of arthritis
Additional types of arthritis and related disorders include:
- Gout – A result of a defect in body chemistry (such as uric acid in the joint fluid), this painful condition most often attacks small joints, especially the big toe. It can usually be controlled with medication and changes in diet.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) – A very serious, chronic, autoimmune disorder characterized by periodic episodes of inflammation of and damage to the joints, tendons, other connective tissues, and organs, including the heart, lungs, blood vessels, brain, kidneys, and skin.
Scleroderma – A very serious disease of the body’s connective tissue that causes thickening and hardening of the skin.
Ankylosing spondylitis – A disease that affects the spine, causing the bones of the spine to grow together.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (jia) – A form of arthritis in children ages 16 or younger that causes inflammation and stiffness of joints for more than six weeks. Unlike adult rheumatoid arthritis, which is chronic and lasts a lifetime, children often outgrow juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. However, the disease can affect bone development in the growing child.
Arthritis rehabilitation team
Arthritis rehabilitation programs can be conducted on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Many skilled professionals are part of the arthritis rehabilitation team, including any of the following:
- Orthopaedist/orthopaedic surgeon
- Rheumatologist
- Physiatrist
- Internist
- Rehabilitation nurse
- Dietitian
- Physical therapist
- Occupational therapist
- Social worker
- Psychologist/psychiatrist
- Recreational therapist
- Vocational therapist