Arthritis: Types, Symptoms, Causes, and Information

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 3 Aug 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis

Learn about arthritis, a group of joint disorders with over 150 forms, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, plus symptoms and treatments.

At a Glance

• 1 - Losing one pound of body weight relieves four pounds of stress on your knees.
• 2 - Nearly 1 in 2 people may develop symptomatic knee osteoarthritis by age 85.
• 3 - An estimated 294,000 children under age 18 have arthritis or a rheumatic condition, roughly 1 in every 250 U.S. children.
• 4 - The total cost of arthritis cases is close to $100 billion each year, and almost half of that comes from lost earnings.

Topic Definition

Arthritis

Arthritis is a broad term for joint disorders marked by inflammation in one or more joints, and it covers more than 150 distinct conditions rather than a single disease. The most familiar is osteoarthritis, which develops as the protective cartilage on the ends of bones wears down, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that attacks the lining of the joints. Other forms include psoriatic arthritis, gout caused by uric acid crystals, and septic arthritis brought on by joint infection. Across all these types, people tend to experience pain, swelling, stiffness, and a persistent ache around the affected joints, and some forms can reach beyond the joints to affect other organs in the body. It is the leading cause of disability among adults in the United States, and although there is no cure, staying physically active, managing weight, and working through physical therapy can help slow its progress and ease the symptoms.

Overview

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States, ahead of both back problems and heart trouble, and has been the most common cause of disability for at least the last 15 years.

Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints. There are over 150 different forms of arthritis, the most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. Other arthritis forms are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and related autoimmune diseases. Joint infection causes septic arthritis. Arthritis is more common in women than men at all ages, and affects all races, ethnic groups and cultures.

Osteoarthritis causes cartilage, the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they constitute a joint, to break down. Symptoms of osteoarthritis may include joint pain and progressive stiffness that develops gradually.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that first targets the lining of joints (synovium). Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include painful swelling, inflammation, and stiffness in the fingers, arms, legs, and wrists occurring in the same joints on both sides of the body, especially upon awakening.

Gouty arthritis is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint, causing inflammation, infections or underlying disease such as psoriasis or lupus, can cause other types of arthritis. There is also an uncommon form of gout caused by the formation of rhomboid crystals of calcium pyrophosphate. This gout is known as pseudogout.

The common symptoms for all arthritis disorders include pain, swelling, joint stiffness and a constant ache around the joint(s). Arthritic disorders like lupus and rheumatoid can also affect other organs in the body with a variety of symptoms.

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the USA. More than 20 million individuals with arthritis have severe limitations in function daily. Absenteeism and frequent visits to the physician are common in individuals who have arthritis. Arthritis makes it very difficult for individuals to be physically active and soon become home bound. An estimated 46 million individuals in the USA have arthritis, and the numbers continue to increase each year. Close to one million individuals are admitted to hospitals each year because of their arthritis.

Arthritic Pain

Pain is often a constant and daily feature of the disease. The pain may be localized to the back, neck, hip, knee, or feet. The pain from arthritis occurs due to inflammation that occurs around the joint, damage to the joint from disease, daily wear and tear of the joint, muscles strains caused by forceful movements against stiff, painful joints and fatigue.

The most important factor in treatment is to understand the disorder and find ways to overcome the obstacles which prevent physical exercise. While neither Rheumatoid arthritis nor osteoarthritis can be completely prevented, one can reduce the risks by becoming physically active, participating in physical therapy, losing weight and eating healthy.

ABC's of self-management or simple lifestyle changes that enable people to combat arthritis disability:

• Activity - Two hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate, low-impact physical activity helps to reduce pain and improve function, mood, and quality of life for adults with arthritis.
• Be Prepared with a Plan - Self-management education programs help arthritis patients improve pain, mood, fatigue, and ability to move.
• Control - One pound of excess weight is equivalent to four pounds on your knees - conversely, one pound lost relieves four pounds of stress on your knees.

Arthritis Factors

Climate: Many people believe that cold climate can cause arthritis. Well, the truth is, weather has nothing to do with arthritis. People in tropical countries or even the Middle East also experience arthritis, even if they live in hot climate conditions. While some studies suggest that the coldness can aggravate the pain of arthritis, weather conditions cannot cause arthritis.

Diet: The importance of diet in your overall health condition cannot be overemphasized. Nutrition plays a key role in preventing all types of diseases. While certain joint problems, like gout, are proven to have a strong connection to the food that you eat, arthritis, on the other hand, cannot be prevented or brought about by merely shifting into a good diet plan. Studies have shown that good diet does not stop arthritis from ever happening to anyone. Heredity and the degeneration of your joints and cartilages are the main factors that will determine if you will have arthritis now or later. The food that you eat may aggravate the arthritic symptoms, but it has yet to be studied if certain food choices do cause arthritis.

Age: If your knowledge of arthritis is based solely on the notion that it only affects older people, then you are being misled by your sources. The truth of the matter is that arthritis can impact anyone, including children, adolescents, and adults within the middle-age bracket. Since arthritis is closely linked to the overall degeneration of the joints and cartilages, it is not surprising that most arthritis sufferers are older people; however, this disease does not target any particular age group, or gender for that matter. This means that no matter how old you are, you must take measures to prepare your body to delay the onset and fight the symptoms of arthritis.

Ultimate Cure: If you are suffering from arthritis, and you have high hopes that this condition can be cured once and for all, then you may be hitching your wagon to a falling star. Once you have arthritis, there can be no going back because there is currently no cure for arthritis. The best that you can do is to slow down the advancement of the disease and deal directly with the pain.

Physical Limitations: Many people think that arthritis can seriously limit one's physical activities. In fact, some people are afraid that because of this condition, they will become highly dependent on their family members for support. Well, arthritis doesn't work like stroke. True enough, during an arthritic attack your joints ache a lot, but it doesn't mean that you have become an invalid. Arthritic people can still be active with their lives.

Facts and Statistics

Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are the most common cause of disability among U.S. adults, and have been for the past 15 years. (MMWR 2009;58(16):421-426. [Data Source: 2005 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)])

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the USA. More than 20 million individuals with arthritis have severe limitations in function daily. Absenteeism and frequent visits to the physician are common in individuals who have arthritis. Arthritis can be very difficult for individuals to be physically active, and some become home bound.

It is estimated that the total cost of arthritis cases is close to $100 billion, of which almost 50% is from lost earnings. Each year, arthritis results in nearly 1 million hospitalizations and close to 45 million outpatient visits to health care centers.

Decreased mobility, with the above symptoms, can make it difficult for an individual to remain physically active, contributing to an increased risk of obesity, high cholesterol or vulnerability to heart disease. People with arthritis are also at increased risk of depression, which may be a response to numerous factors, including fear of worsening symptoms.

• Nearly 1 in 2 people may develop symptomatic knee OA by age 85 years.
• In 2010-2012, 49.7% of adults 65 years or older reported an arthritis diagnosis.
• One in five (22.7%) adults in the United States report having doctor diagnosed arthritis.
• By 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans ages 18 years or older are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
• Approximately 1 in 3 people with arthritis (31%) in between the ages of 18 and 64 report arthritis-attributable work limitation.
• Among all civilian, non-institutionalized U.S. adults, 9.8% (22.7 million) report both doctor-diagnosed and arthritis attributable activity limitations.
• An estimated 294,000 children under age 18 have some form of arthritis or rheumatic condition; this represents approximately 1 in every 250 children in the U.S.
• An estimated 52.5 million adults in the United States reported being told by a doctor that they have some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is arthritis the same as rheumatism

No, rheumatism is an informal umbrella term for many conditions affecting joints and connective tissue, while arthritis specifically refers to joint inflammation and includes over 150 distinct forms.

Can young people and children get arthritis

Yes, arthritis can affect people of any age including children, adolescents, and middle-aged adults, and roughly 1 in every 250 children in the United States has some form of arthritis or a rheumatic condition.

Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis

No, research has not shown that habitual knuckle cracking leads to arthritis, though it can be a source of joint noise and mild discomfort for some people.

What is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition where cartilage gradually breaks down from wear, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the joint lining, often symmetrically on both sides.

Can arthritis be prevented

Arthritis cannot be fully prevented because heredity and joint degeneration are primary factors, but staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating well can reduce the risk and delay onset.

Which doctor treats arthritis

A rheumatologist specializes in diagnosing and treating arthritis and related autoimmune and rheumatic conditions, while primary care physicians and orthopedic specialists may also assist with care.

Does diet cure arthritis

Diet alone does not cause or cure arthritis, though certain foods can aggravate symptoms in conditions like gout, so good nutrition supports overall health without stopping the disease.

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.

Last updated: 3 Aug 2026