The term arthritis is derived from the Greek word “arthron” meaning “joint” and “itis” meaning inflammation. It refers to various types of arthritic conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Rheumatic Arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, Septic Arthritis , psoriatic arthritis, and so on. These conditions involve inflammation and tend to give rise to symptoms.

     Joints are the areas where two bones meet allowing the bones to move. The bony ends are covered with cartilage, which helps to reduce the friction of movement. Synovial membrane lines the joint and seals it into a joint capsule. The synovial membrane secretes synovial fluid around the joint to lubricate it. The strong ligaments surround the joint to give support and limit the joint’s movement. Tendons on each side of a joint attached to muscles which control movement of the joint. Bursae are fluid-filled sacs present between bones, ligaments, or other adjacent structures help cushion the friction in a joint.

    When a joint is inflamed it affects areas in or around the joints and elicit the following symptoms
    1. Pain
    2. Stiffness
    3. Swelling of joints
    4. Difficulty in moving one or more joints
    There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. But commonly the following types are seen clinically.

Osteoarthritis :
    Usually occurs after age of 45 years. It is also called as degenerative arthritis because it involves the breakdown of cartilage and bones. It causes pain and stiffness. The knee and hip joint are the principal joints affected.

Rheumatoid arthritis:
    This is a fault in body’s defence mechanism or immune system causes inflammation or swelling. Inflammation begins in joint lining and then damages both cartilage and bone. Hand, wrist, ankle, shoulder, elbow joints can be affected. Women are more prone to this condition.

Rheumatic Fever :
    Rheumatic fever is caused by an infection commonly the streptococcus. It is represented by poly arthritis. The untreated cases can result damaged heart valves. In many cases the “ Rheumatic fever licks the Joint and Kicks the heart”.

Septic Arthritis:
    Septic arthritis results from various infections commonly Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Tuberculosis.

Gout:
    This results when the body is unable to get rid of a natural substance called uric acid. It forms needle like crystals in the joints causing severe pain and swelling. Men are commonly affected. Big toe, knees and wrist are the target areas.
The Ankylosing spondylitis affects spine and sacroiliac joint causing more low back pain.Bursitis and Tendinitis results from irritation caused by injury and overusing the joint. Other types include Psoriatic arthritis, Infectious arthritis, Paget’s disease, Lumbosacral arthritis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Reynaud’s phenomenon, Behcet’s disease, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal hyperostosis. Ehlers Danlos syndrome, Pseudogout, Osteonecrosis, Lyme disease, Repetitive stress injury, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and so on.