Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints (where the bones meet) or It is the inflammation of the joint causing discomfort when using the joint. Arthritis is most common in the; feet, hands, knees, hips or lower back. There are different types of arthritis, and each of them has different symptoms and ways of treating them.

Types of arthritis

• Osteoarthritis: it occurs when joint cartilage breaks down from repeated stress.
• Ankylosing spondylitis: it is the arthritis of the spine usually in the lower back
• Gout: it is a form of arthritis that causes hard crystals of uric acid to form in the joints.
• Juvenile arthritis: it is a disease where the immune system attacks the tissue around the joints.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: a disease that causes the immune system to attack synovial membranes in the joints.
• Psoriatic arthritis: it’s a type of arthritis that develops in people with psoriasis(a skin disorder)

Symptoms of arthritis.

There are different symptoms of arthritis for different types of arthritis, the common symptoms are:

• Swelling.
• Tenderness.
• Warmth.
• Pain.
• Stiffness.
• Redness.

How can arthritis be treated?

There are different types of arthritis and it can be treated in different ways;

• Medication.
• Physical therapy.
• Therapeutic injections.
• Through surgery for severe cases.

Prevention of arthritis.

• Maintaining a healthy body weight.
• Avoiding tobacco products.
• Reducing the risk of joint injuries.
• Doing low-impact, non-weight-bearing exercises.