Arthritis is a disease that affects your joints (areas where your bones meet and move). Arthritis usually involves inflammation or degeneration (breakdown) of your joints. These changes can cause pain when you use the joint.
Arthritis is most common in the following areas of the body:
What Causes?
Different types of arthritis have different causes. For instance, gout is the result of too much uric acid in your body. But for other types of arthritis, the exact cause is unknown. You may develop arthritis if you:
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Different types of arthritis have different symptoms. They can be mild in some people and severe in others. Joint discomfort might come and go, or it could stay constant. Common symptoms include:
Who treats arthritis?
Rheumatologists are specialists in arthritis and diseases that involve bones, muscles, and joints. They are trained to make difficult diagnoses and to treat all types of arthritis, especially those requiring complex treatment.
Why exercise is needed
The right kinds of exercise can improve health and fitness without hurting joints. Combined with a treatment program, exercise can add to quality of life. It can:
Bones need strong muscles for support. Not exercising weakens those supporting muscles. Weak muscles put more stress on joints.
