Arthritis Health Care Information


Arthritis occurs when one or more of your joints, such as knees, wrists or part of your spinal column, are inflamed. Joint pain and stiffness are two of the main symptoms you may be experiencing, though you may also have swelling and redness of the joints, or a decreased range of motion.


Pain from arthritis is caused by joint damage, which can occur from the wear and tear of bone grinding on bone, or from your body’s immune system attacking your joints causing inflammation. Treatment options, such as medications, physical therapy and surgery, focus on relieving the symptoms of arthritis and improving joint function.


You may be more at risk for arthritis if you have a family history of it, if you are older, if you’ve had previous joint injuries or if you are overweight. Unfortunately, there is no proven way to prevent arthritis, but we do know that maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly may help reduce your risk.