Synopsis: General information and list of over 150 various types of arthritis, a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints in humans. The most 5 common types of arthritis are Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Introduction
Did you know there are more than 150 types of arthritis? Arthritis is an umbrella term used to describe over 150 medical conditions and diseases, known as rheumatic diseases. The word arthritis is medically defined as joint inflammation. Inflammation is one of the human body's reactions to disease or injury, and includes swelling, pain, and quite often, stiffness. Inflammation that lasts for a very long time or recurs, as in arthritis, can lead to tissue damage.
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So What Exactly is Arthritis?
Arthritis is defined as a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or age. Other arthritis forms are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and related autoimmune diseases. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than a third of adults who have arthritis report it limits their leisure and work activities. 25% of them state it also causes severe pain (7+ on the 0 to 10 point pain scale).
Children and teens get a type of arthritis called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). "Juvenile" means young (16 yrs of age or younger) and "idiopathic" means the cause is not known. JIA is also sometimes called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).
Continued below image.An example of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the hand.Continued...
Many people confuse osteoporosis and 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 bones become less dense and more likely to fracture. In osteoporosis, there is a loss of bone tissue that leaves bones less dense and more likely to fracture. It can result in a loss of height, severe back pain, and change in posture. Osteoporosis can impair a person's ability to walk and can cause prolonged or permanent disability - Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are the most common cause of disability among U.S. adults and have been for the past 15 years.
Nearly 50% of people may develop symptomatic knee OA by age 85 years.
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.
26.0% of women and 19.1% men report doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
An estimated 27 million adults had osteoarthritis in 2005.
An estimated 5.0 million adults had fibromyalgia in 2005.
An estimated 1.5 million adults had rheumatoid arthritis in 2007.
In 2004, there were 454,652 total knee replacements performed, primarily for arthritis.
An estimated 3.0 million adults had gout in 2005, and 6.1 million adults have ever had gout.
An estimated 294,000 children under age 18 have some form of arthritis or rheumatic condition.
In 2004, there were 232,857 total hip replacements, 41,934 shoulder, and 12,055 other joint replacements, primarily for arthritis.
By 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans ages 18 years or older are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, check out his bio.
•List of Different Types of Arthritis: General information and list of over 150 various types of arthritis, a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints in humans.
Citing and References
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Cite This Page: Disabled World. (2015, June 23 - Last revised: 2022, January 14). List of Different Types of Arthritis. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved April 30, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/health/autoimmunediseases/arthritis/arthritis-types.php
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Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, check out his bio.