Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the 2 most common types of arthritis.<\/p>\n
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, affecting nearly 9 million people.<\/p>\n
It most often develops in\u00a0adults who are in their mid-40s or older.<\/p>\n
It’s also more common in women and\u00a0people with a family history of\u00a0the condition.<\/p>\n
But it can occur at any age as a result of an injury or be associated with other\u00a0joint-related conditions, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis.<\/p>\n
Osteoarthritis initially affects the smooth cartilage lining of the joint. This makes movement more difficult than usual, leading to pain and stiffness.<\/p>\n
Once the cartilage lining starts to roughen and thin out, the tendons and ligaments have to work harder.<\/p>\n
This can cause swelling and the formation of bony spurs called osteophytes.<\/p>\n
Severe loss of cartilage can lead to bone rubbing on bone, altering the shape of the joint and forcing the bones out of their normal position.<\/p>\n
The most commonly affected joints\u00a0are those in the:<\/p>\n
Find out more about osteoarthritis<\/a><\/p>\n In the UK, rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 400,000 people.<\/p>\n It often starts when a person is between 40 and 50 years old. Women are 3 times more likely to be affected than men.<\/p>\n In rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system targets affected joints, which leads to pain and swelling.<\/p>\n The outer covering (synovium) of the joint is the first place affected.<\/p>\n This can then spread across the joint, leading to further swelling and a change in the joint’s shape. This\u00a0may cause the\u00a0bone and cartilage to break down.<\/p>\n People with rheumatoid arthritis can also develop problems with other tissues and organs in their body.<\/p>\n Find out more about rheumatoid arthritis<\/a><\/p>\n Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the 2 most common types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, affecting nearly 9 million people. It most often develops in\u00a0adults who are in their mid-40s or older. It’s also more common in women and\u00a0people with a family history of\u00a0the condition. But … Continue reading Types of Arthritis<\/span> Rheumatoid arthritis<\/h3>\n
Other types of arthritis and related conditions<\/h3>\n
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