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Anatomy of a Joint

About Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases

Diagnosing Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases

Common Types of Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases  

Treatment for Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases

Living With a Rheumatic Disease

Glossary 

Online Resources

Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are characterized by pain, swelling, and limited movement in joints and connective tissues in the body. More than 40 million people in the US suffer from arthritis in one form or another, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Arthritis, which literally means inflammation of a joint (where two or more bones meet), actually refers to more than 100 different diseases. Rheumatic diseases include any diseases that cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in joints or other supportive body structures, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. In fact, the group of arthritis diseases falls under the category of rheumatic diseases.

Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are often mistakenly associated with old age, because osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis) occurs more often among elderly persons. However, arthritis and other rheumatic diseases affect people of all ages.

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