Arthritis refers to the inflammation of the joints, which often comes with pain and swelling in the joints. It can occur in both small joints (eg. fingers) and large joints (eg. hip or knee). The joints can become stiff or deformed, resulting in disability or decreased mobility.
There are 2 types of arthritis:
- Osteoarthritis – 'wear-and-tear' in joints, which is the most common form of arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis or gout, or inflammatory arthritis – chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the joints, blood vessels and organs