Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects a joint, allowing it to move smoothly. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, such as when you walk. Without the normal amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness.
Joint inflammation may result from:
An autoimmune disease (the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue) Broken bone General "wear and tear" on joints Infection, usually by the bacteria or virus
Usually the joint inflammation goes away after the cause goes away or is treated. Sometimes it does not. When this happens, you have chronic arthritis. Arthritis may occur in men or women. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. See: Osteoarthritis
Other, more common types of arthritis include:
Ankylosing spondylitis Gonococcal arthritis Gout Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children) Other bacterial infections (nongonococcal bacterial arthritis) Psoriatic arthritis Reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome) Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults) Scleroderma Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
What causes Arthritis?
Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects a joint, allowing it to move smoothly. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, such as when you walk. Without the normal amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness.
Joint inflammation may result from:
An autoimmune disease (the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue) Broken bone General "wear and tear" on joints {{ORGANIZATION}}, usually by the bacteria or virus
Usually the joint inflammation goes away after the cause goes away or is treated. Sometimes it does not. When this happens, you have chronic arthritis. Arthritis may occur in men or women. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. See: Osteoarthritis
Other, more common types of arthritis include:
Ankylosing spondylitis {{NAME}} arthritis {{NAME}} rheumatoid arthritis (in children) Other bacterial infections (nongonococcal bacterial arthritis) Psoriatic arthritis Reactive arthritis ({{NAME}} syndrome) {{ORGANIZATION}} arthritis (in adults) {{NAME}} lupus erythematosus ({{ORGANIZATION}})