Maegan Smith, Shelly Martin, and Anna Gober
The term arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation in the joints. Arthritis means "inflammation of a joint." Joints, found where two bones in the body meet, cushion the bones and prevent them from rubbing against each other during movement. Joints are composed of cartilage, both smooth and elastic, surrounded by a casing called the joint capsule. The joint capsule is lined with a synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid, a liquid that fills the joint cavity and further reduces friction between the bones. Although all arthritic conditions involve joint pain, the severity, duration, and effects of this pain vary considerably from one condition to another. Some forms of arthritis cause mild symptoms which can be controlled with proper care and treatment. Others are very serious and if left untreated may lead to severe disability.
According to the National Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is the number one cause of physical disability, affecting nearly 43 million Americans. Arthritis affects people of both sexes and of all races, socioeconomic levels, and geographic areas. Although most forms of arthritis are more common in adults, about 300,000 children in the United States suffer from some type of arthritis- related disease. Each type of arthritis has a unique treatment program. One factor is common to all types of arthritis- the earlier a diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment can be started and treatment can help to avoid disability and permanent damage. Because there is no cure for most forms of arthritis, treatment programs aim to minimize pain and preserve joint function. Physicians perscribe pain-releiving medications and regular low impact exercise. Aquatic exercises provide a workout without undue strain on the joints and muscles.
Anna Rae
is destroyed and bony outgrowths known as bone spurs develop.
Osteoarthritis develops later on in life and usually affects only a few joints.
It is genereally believed to be caused by the wear and tear that joints are subjected to
over time although some chemical and genetic factors may play a part.
Shelly Martin
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition. This means that the body's own immune
system has begun to attack its own tissues - in this case the tissues in the joints. This type
of immune system attack over time can lead to tissue and joint damage. The most common joints
affected are those of the hands, wrists, arms and feet. It is more common in women. It
generally occurs in a much younger age group than other forms of arthritis and can occur in children.
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are pain, stiffness and deformity. In most cases the pain and stiffness
can be relieved and the deformity prevented with a combination of medication, rest, exercise and joint protection
Maegan Smith
common in men than women. It usually starts with pain in the sacroiliac joint,
a fibrous joint in the lower back between the lumber vertebrae and the coccyx,
the bones at the lower end of the spine. It is formed of the five fused
vertebrae that compose the sacrum and parts of the two hip bones.
