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Conditions & Diseases: Bones, Muscles & Joints

Arthritis

Introduction & Overview

Arthritis is a group of more than 100 chronic degenerative rheumatic diseases and other conditions that cause pain, stiffness and swelling of joints due to inflammation of joints, the tissues that surround the joints and other connective tissues. Any part of the body can be inflamed and have a debilitating affect with life threatening complications (1) & (2). A brief introduction of joints would simplify our understanding of arthritis.

A typical joint (for example the leg joint) comprises of:

Cartilage: Cartilage is a wear resistant connective tissue covering the bones to help reduce friction of movement.
Synovial Membrane: Synovial membrane is a tissue lining the joint and sealing it into a joint capsule. The Synovial membrane secretes synovial fluid around the joint to lubricate it.
Ligaments: Tough, elastic bands of connective tissue known as ligaments surround the joint to give support and limit the joint’s movement.
Tendons: Tendons are tough connective tissue attached on each side of joint controlling the movement of joint.
Bursas: They are fluid-filled sacs between bones, ligaments or other adjacent structures helping in cushioning the friction in a joint.
Meniscus: Meniscus is a curved part of cartilage in the knees and other joints (3).

Femur: the thigh bone
Tibia: the shin bone
Patella: the kneecap.

According to a National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) of 2003-2005, an estimated 46 million (22%) adults have self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis and 19 million (9% of all adults) are reported to be suffering from arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation. Based on NHIS data of 2003, an estimated 67 million (25%) adults aged 18 years and above will have doctor-diagnosed arthritis by the year 2030 and an estimated 25 million adults (37%) with arthritis will report arthritis-attributable activity limitations (4).

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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