Arthritis - Types and Characteristics
Arthritis is a general term that describes inflammation and/or wearing away the joints, this being of two types:
Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis. It is associated with a breakdown of cartilage in joints and commonly occurs in the hips, knees and spine. Also it often affects the finger joints, the joint at the base of the thumb, and the joint at the base of the big toe. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in a joint to become stiff and lose its elasticity, making it more susceptible to damage. Over time, the cartilage may wear away in some areas, greatly decreasing its ability to act as a shock absorber. As the cartilage wears away, tendons and ligaments stretch causing pain. If the condition worsens, the bones could rub against each other.
There are several factors that increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis including heredity, obesity, injury or overuse of certain joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis in which the membranes or tissues lining the joints become inflamed (synovitis). Joint inflammation causes swelling and pain and over time, may destroy the joint tissues and lead to disability. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, knees or neck. It usually affects both sides of the body at the same time. The abnormal immune response results in ongoing inflammation of the tissues lining the joint. Ongoing inflammation also causes the membrane lining of the joint (synovium) to grow into a thick, abnormal tissue called pannus. These processes result in destruction of the cartilage, underlying bone surrounding the joint, ligaments and tendons, and eventually lead to deformed joints.
