| Introduction | | | | what the cause of arthritis may be. |
| Arthritis is a general term which is applied to a number | | | | Treatment |
| of painful conditions affecting the joints and bones. | | | | Each different form of arthritis may require a different |
| There are about 100 different types of arthritis. | | | | form of treatment and management of the conditions |
| Arthritis is normally associated with older people, but it | | | | and symptoms of the particular type of arthritis you're |
| can affect people at any age, even children. This is | | | | interested in. First of all, you should decide what your |
| called Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. | | | | type of arthritis is. Once you've done that, then you |
| There are some forms of arthritis which are inherited, | | | | can search for the various treatments. |
| but most are not. Some forms of arthritis show very | | | | One thing which is common though across most forms |
| strong tendencies to be inherited, others show a weak | | | | of arthritis, is that early treatment is essential as this will |
| tendency and some based on the available evidence | | | | mean that further damage to your joints is reduced |
| are not inherited. | | | | and your quality of life is improved. |
| Symptoms | | | | There will probably be a wide range of medical |
| The main symptoms of arthritis are stiffness and pain | | | | professionals involved in your treatment. They will |
| of particular joints. There may also be some restrictive | | | | probably include your doctor, an arthritis specialist, a |
| movement of the affected joints along with some | | | | physiotherapist amongst many others. |
| swelling and redness over the joints in a number of | | | | A common theme though all the different kinds of |
| cases. The specific symptoms again will depend upon | | | | treatment for arthritis though, is to reduce the |
| what type of arthritis you're suffering from although | | | | inflammation and swelling of the joint affected. This |
| the vast majority of types of arthritis all include | | | | can be done via various drugs and/or some kind of |
| problems created by the inflammation and swelling of | | | | physiotherapy. |
| joints. | | | | A number of sufferers of arthritis find the condition so |
| Causes | | | | debilitating and painful, that they resort to a joint |
| The cause of arthritis is not fully known, however, | | | | replacement. A while ago, it was only hips, knees and |
| some factors which may contribute to arthritis are | | | | shoulders that were replaced, however, now, most |
| obesity and jobs which put repetitive movements of a | | | | joints it is possible to replace. |
| particular joint. This includes sports people, for example | | | | Summary |
| footballers tend to develop arthritis in their knees and | | | | Arthritis is a very painful and debilitating condition which |
| ankles as a consequence of injuries sustained to these | | | | affects many people, and can affect young and old |
| parts. There is no evidence however, that suggests | | | | alike. We have some idea as to what causes arthritis |
| that physically active people who are not injured | | | | but as of yet, we don't fully understand the causes. As |
| through sport have a higher risk of arthritis. Some | | | | such, it is quite difficult to figure out how to stop people |
| studies have suggested that gout may sometimes be | | | | from suffering from this condition. There are a number |
| a contributing factor to causing arthritis. | | | | of treatments available for sufferers which may |
| However, as mentioned earlier, nobody really knows | | | | include various drugs or physiotherapy and even |
| what the exact cause of arthritis is. There are many | | | | replacement of the joint. |
| people around the world though attempting to discover | | | | |