Clinical Definition
Arthritis is acute or chronic inflammation of one or more joints, typically causing pain, stiffness, swelling, and sometimes loss of movement. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, but rheumatoid arthritis is also a common form of arthritis.
In Our Own Words
The word arthritis literally means joint inflammation, and is used to describe over 100 diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissue surrounding the joints, and other connective tissue.
These different kinds of arthritis all tend to involve joint pain, stiffness, and varying degrees of inflammation. Depending on the kind of arthritis, there may be other symptoms outside the joints. The most common kind of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is very common with age. Other forms of arthritis commonly encountered in medicine are rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune arthritis while gout results from a disorder of a person’s metabolism of uric acid.
Symptoms and Side Effects
- Joint pain
- Joint inflammation
- Fatigue
- Restricted range of motion
