Arthritis isn’t just one disease; it’s a general term for over 100 conditions that cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in one or more joints.

These conditions can arise from various causes, including the breakdown of cartilage over time (as in osteoarthritis), the immune system mistakenly attacking the joints (as in rheumatoid arthritis), or the buildup of crystals in the joints (as in gout).

Symptoms can include joint pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, and a reduced range of motion. While it’s more common in older adults, arthritis can affect people of all ages.

Common types of arthritis include:

Osteoarthritis (OA):
This is the most prevalent type of arthritis. It happens when there is a breakdown of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in your joints. This leads to inflammation, cyst formation, pain and swelling. It commonly affects the knees, hips, spine and hands, although other joints can be affected too.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA):
This is an autoimmune disease, where your immune system mistakenly attacks the joint linings, causing pain, swelling and deformation. It typically affects multiple joints, often symmetrically, such as the hands, wrists and feet. As well as affecting the joints, RA causes problems in other body systems and organs.

Psoriatic arthritis:
Linked to psoriasis, an autoimmune condition that causes red, scaly rashes and thickened or pitted nails, psoriatic arthritis can affect any joint. Common sites are the fingers and toes – you may have ‘dactylitis’, when an entire digit swells and reddens.

Gout:
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. Uric acid occurs as a natural by-product of bodily processes and is normally filtered out by the kidneys. However, if levels become too high, crystals form in the joints (typically the big toe joint) causing inflammation, redness, swelling and severe pain. Over time, the crystals can cause joint damage and can form lumps under the skin called ‘tophi’.

Osteopaths can support people with arthritis of any type. Although treatment cannot reverse changes in the joint, it can alleviate the pain and stiffness associated with the condition.

Osteopathic treatment of the affected joints eases muscle tension, improves range of motion and encourages circulation of blood and joint fluid to nourish the tissues. Osteopaths also treat other parts of the body to reduce stress on the painful joint and promote healthy alignment.

Exercise is an important part of managing arthritis, and your osteopath can advise on the right kind of exercise for you. Combining osteopathic treatment and exercise has proved especially successful in managing symptoms.