Types of Arthritis: List of Conditions and Treatments

Author: Ian C. Langtree - View Credentials
Published: 23 Jun 2015 - Updated: 13 Oct 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information brings together nearly 170 arthritic and related musculoskeletal conditions in one alphabetical reference, from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis to rarer disorders such as relapsing polychondritis and palindromic rheumatism, alongside a side-by-side comparison of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis covering risk factors, physical effects and current treatment options. Arthritis itself covers roughly 100 conditions, and federal survey data show it affects about 53.2 million U.S. adults, or 21.2% of the adult population, including nearly half of people aged 65 and older and more than half of adults living with a disability. Drawing on CDC surveillance reports and National Institutes of Health guidance, the reference helps patients, caregivers, seniors and people with disabilities put a name to a diagnosis, see how closely related conditions differ, and prepare better questions for their health care providers.

At a Glance

• 1 - Osteoarthritis affects about 33 million U.S. adults.
• 2 - Gout affects about 9.2 million U.S. adults, or 3.9% of the adult population.
• 3 - More than one in four adults with arthritis report severe joint pain, scoring 7 or higher on a 0 to 10 scale.
• 4 - About 220,000 U.S. children and teens have arthritis, most often juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which begins before age 16.

Topic Definition

Arthritis

Arthritis is a broad term for roughly 100 conditions that cause inflammation, damage or degeneration in one or more joints and the tissues around them, typically producing pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced range of motion. Some forms, such as osteoarthritis, develop as joint cartilage wears down with age, injury or excess weight, while others, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and psoriatic arthritis, are autoimmune diseases in which the immune system attacks healthy joint tissue. Gout results from uric acid crystals building up in a joint, and septic arthritis is caused by infection. Arthritis can affect people of any age, including children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and is a leading cause of disability and chronic pain.

Overview

Did you know there are about 100 types of arthritis and related conditions?

Arthritis is an umbrella term for approximately 100 conditions that affect the joints and the tissues around them, a group often called rheumatic diseases [Fallon et al., 2023]. The list on this page goes further, gathering nearly 170 arthritic, connective tissue, bone and soft tissue disorders that can cause joint pain, swelling or stiffness, so a few entries, such as osteoporosis and carpal tunnel syndrome, are related musculoskeletal conditions rather than arthritis in the strict sense.

The word arthritis literally means joint inflammation. Inflammation is one of the body's responses to disease or injury and brings swelling, pain and often stiffness. When inflammation lasts a long time or keeps coming back, as it does in many forms of arthritis, it can damage cartilage, bone and other joint tissues.

So What Exactly is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a joint disorder involving inflammation, damage or degeneration in one or more joints. The most common form is osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), which affects about 33 million U.S. adults and is linked to older age, joint injury or repetitive stress, obesity, family history and being female, particularly after age 50 [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-a]. Other forms include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and related autoimmune diseases, while septic arthritis is caused by infection inside a joint.

Among the most widely diagnosed conditions are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout, Fibromyalgia and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. National health surveys count all five under diagnosed arthritis, even though fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that does not cause joint inflammation [Fallon et al., 2023]. Gout alone affects about 9.2 million U.S. adults, or 3.9% of the adult population [Chen-Xu et al., 2019]. Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in women than in men, and smoking raises the risk of developing it [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-b].

The impact on daily life is substantial. About 25.7 million adults, or 43.9% of those with arthritis, report that it limits their usual activities [Theis et al., 2021]. More than one in four adults with arthritis, 27.2% or about 14.6 million people, report severe joint pain, defined as an average score of 7 or higher on a 0 to 10 scale [Barbour et al., 2016].

Children and teens can also develop arthritis. The most common type is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), which by definition begins before age 16. "Idiopathic" means the cause is not known. JIA was formerly called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and includes seven subtypes, among them oligoarticular, polyarticular, systemic and enthesitis-related arthritis [National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, n.d.-a].

Many people confuse osteoporosis with the different types of arthritis.

• Arthritis: A general term for conditions that affect the joints and surrounding tissues. Joints are places in the body where bones come together, such as the knees, wrists, fingers, toes and hips. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Osteoporosis: A condition in which the body loses bone tissue, leaving bones less dense and more likely to fracture. It can result in loss of height, severe back pain and changes in posture. Osteoporosis can impair a person's ability to walk and can cause prolonged or permanent disability - Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Types of Arthritis

The table above compares common risk factors, physical effects and treatment options. Osteoporosis medicines now include bisphosphonates, estrogen agonist/antagonists, hormone therapy, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone and PTH-related protein analogs, RANK ligand inhibitors and sclerostin inhibitors [National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, n.d.-b]. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, including biologics, are the main treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, while osteoarthritis care centers on physical activity, weight management, physical therapy, pain relief and, when other options fail, joint replacement [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-a, n.d.-b]. Treatment choices should always be made with a health care provider.

Arthritis Prevalence in the U.S.

Arthritis is a leading cause of activity limitations, disability and chronic pain in the United States [Fallon et al., 2023]. Key figures from national surveys include:

• About 53.2 million U.S. adults, or 21.2%, reported diagnosed arthritis during 2019 - 2021 [Fallon et al., 2023].
• Prevalence was 24.2% among women and 17.9% among men [Fallon et al., 2023].
• Nearly half of adults aged 65 and older (47.3%) reported arthritis, compared with 26.0% of those aged 45 to 64 and 5.4% of those aged 18 to 44 [Fallon et al., 2023].
• More than half of adults with a disability (54.8%) reported arthritis, along with 35.2% of veterans [Fallon et al., 2023].
• Because the National Health Interview Survey was redesigned in 2019, these figures should not be compared directly with earlier estimates, such as the 58.5 million adults reported for 2016 - 2018 [Fallon et al., 2023; Theis et al., 2021].
• About 220,000 U.S. children and teens under 18, or 305 per 100,000, had arthritis during 2017 - 2021, with the highest rate among those aged 12 to 17 [Lites et al., 2023].
• The lifetime risk of developing symptomatic knee osteoarthritis by age 85 is about 44.7%, rising to 56.8% for people with a past knee injury and about two in three among people with obesity [Murphy et al., 2008].
• By 2040, an estimated 78.4 million U.S. adults (25.9%) are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and 34.6 million are expected to have activity limitations because of it [Hootman et al., 2016].

Frequently Asked Questions

Can arthritis be cured?

Most chronic forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, cannot be cured, but they can be managed with medication, exercise, weight control and joint protection. Some types, such as septic arthritis caused by a bacterial infection, can clear up completely with prompt treatment.

What kind of doctor treats arthritis?

A primary care provider can diagnose and manage many cases of arthritis. People with inflammatory or autoimmune types, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriatic arthritis, are usually referred to a rheumatologist, while an orthopedic surgeon handles joint replacement and other surgery.

How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?

Doctors combine a physical exam and medical history with blood tests for rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies, inflammation markers such as ESR and CRP, and imaging like X-rays or ultrasound. Early diagnosis matters because starting treatment soon after symptoms begin can limit joint damage.

Is arthritis hereditary?

Genes can raise the risk of several types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout and osteoarthritis. A family history does not mean a person will develop arthritis, since age, weight, injuries, smoking and other factors also play a large role.

Does weather make arthritis pain worse?

Many people with arthritis say their joints ache more in cold or damp weather or when air pressure drops. Research findings on this link are mixed, but staying warm, keeping active and following a regular treatment plan can help with symptoms year round.

What foods can trigger a gout flare?

Foods high in purines, such as red meat, organ meats and some seafood, can raise uric acid levels and trigger gout attacks. Alcohol, especially beer, and drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup are also common triggers, while staying well hydrated may help lower risk.

When should you see a doctor about joint pain?

See a health care provider if joint pain, swelling or stiffness lasts more than a few days or keeps returning. A joint that is suddenly hot, red and swollen, especially with a fever, needs urgent care because it may be an infection that can damage the joint quickly.

Can arthritis qualify for disability benefits?

Yes, arthritis can qualify for Social Security disability benefits in the United States when it severely limits a person's ability to work. The Social Security Administration evaluates claims using medical evidence and its listings for inflammatory arthritis and major joint dysfunction, along with a review of daily functioning.

References:

• Barbour, K. E., Boring, M., Helmick, C. G., Murphy, L. B., and Qin, J. (2016). Prevalence of severe joint pain among adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis - United States, 2002 - 2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 65(39), 1052 - 1056.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-a). Osteoarthritis.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-b). Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Chen-Xu, M., Yokose, C., Rai, S. K., Pillinger, M. H., and Choi, H. K. (2019). Contemporary prevalence of gout and hyperuricemia in the United States and decadal trends: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007 - 2016. Arthritis and Rheumatology, 71(6), 991 - 999.
• Fallon, E. A., Boring, M. A., Foster, A. L., Stowe, E. W., Lites, T. D., Odom, E. L., and Seth, P. (2023). Prevalence of diagnosed arthritis - United States, 2019 - 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 72(41), 1101 - 1107.
• Hootman, J. M., Helmick, C. G., Barbour, K. E., Theis, K. A., and Boring, M. A. (2016). Updated projected prevalence of self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation among US adults, 2015 - 2040. Arthritis and Rheumatology, 68(7), 1582 - 1587.
• Lites, T. D., Foster, A. L., Boring, M. A., Fallon, E. A., Odom, E. L., and Seth, P. (2023). Arthritis among children and adolescents aged less than 18 years - United States, 2017 - 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 72(29), 788 - 792.
• Murphy, L., Schwartz, T. A., Helmick, C. G., Renner, J. B., Tudor, G., Koch, G., Dragomir, A., Kalsbeek, W. D., Luta, G., and Jordan, J. M. (2008). Lifetime risk of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis Care and Research, 59(9), 1207 - 1213.
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. (n.d.-a). Juvenile arthritis.
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. (n.d.-b). Osteoporosis: Diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
• Theis, K. A., Murphy, L. B., Guglielmo, D., Boring, M. A., Okoro, C. A., Duca, L. M., and Helmick, C. G. (2021). Prevalence of arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation - United States, 2016 - 2018. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 70(40), 1401 - 1407.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Arthritis is often thought of as one disease of old age, but the long list of conditions behind the word shows why that idea falls short - the causes range from autoimmune attack and infection to crystal deposits, injury and inherited connective tissue disorders, and each calls for its own approach to diagnosis and care. The stakes are rising, as projections point to about 78.4 million U.S. adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis by 2040, while roughly 25.7 million already say the condition limits their everyday activities. Risk is also shaped by choices and circumstances that can be addressed, since the lifetime chance of painful knee osteoarthritis climbs to about two in three for people with obesity, and smoking raises the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. For older adults, people with disabilities and the families who support them, an accurate diagnosis is the starting point for treatment that protects mobility, independence and the ability to keep working and living on their own terms.

Author Credentials: Ian C. Langtree is a writer, editor, and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, which he established in 2004 as one of the longest-running independent resources for disability news and information. Over more than two decades, he has written and edited thousands of articles on disability rights, health, accessibility, and assistive technology. Drawing on a global perspective shaped by extensive travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed advocate of the Social Model of Disability, the framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that focuses on removing societal barriers rather than on individual impairments. His writing is grounded in that framework and in a lasting commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.