AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Arthritis Advice

The word “arthritis” makes many 

people think of painful, stiff joints. 

But, there are many kinds of arthritis, 

each with different symptoms and 

treatments. Most types of arthritis are 

chronic. That means they can go on 

for a long period of time. 

Arthritis can attack joints in 

almost any part of the body. 

Some types of arthritis 

cause changes you 

can see and 

feel—swelling, 

warmth, and 

redness in your joints. 

In some kinds of arthritis, 

the pain and swelling last 

only a short time but are very 

uncomfortable. Other types of 

arthritis might be less painful 

but still slowly cause damage to 

your joints. 

Common Kinds Of Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most common 

diseases in the United States. Older 

people most often have osteoarthritis, 

rheumatoid arthritis, or gout.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most 

common type of arthritis in older people. 

OA starts when tissue, called cartilage, 

that pads bones in a joint begins to wear 

away. When the cartilage has worn away, 

your bones rub against each other. OA 

most often happens in your hands, neck, 

lower back, or the large weight-bearing 

joints of your body, such as knees 

and hips.

OA symptoms range from stiffness 

and mild pain that comes and goes to 

pain that doesn’t stop, even when you 

are resting or sleeping. Sometimes OA 

causes your joints to feel stiff after you 

haven’t moved them for while, like after 

riding in the car. The stiffness goes away 

when you move the joint. Over time, OA 

can make it hard to move your joints. 

It can cause a disability if your back, 

knees, or hips are affected.

Why do you get OA? Growing older 

is what most often puts you at risk for 

OA, possibly because your joints and the 

cartilage around them become less able 

to recover from stress and damage. Also, 

OA in the hands may run in families. 
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Arthritis Advice

The word “arthritis” makes many 

people think of painful, stiff joints. 

But, there are many kinds of arthritis, 

each with different symptoms and 

treatments. Most types of arthritis are 

chronic. That means they can go on 

for a long period of time. 

Arthritis can attack joints in 

almost any part of the body. 

Some types of arthritis 

cause changes you 

can see and 

feel—swelling, 

warmth, and 

redness in your joints. 

In some kinds of arthritis, 

the pain and swelling last 

only a short time, but are very 

uncomfortable. Other types of 

arthritis might be less painful, 

but still slowly cause damage to 

your joints. 

Common Kinds Of Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most common 

diseases in the United States. Older 

people most often have osteoarthritis, 

rheumatoid arthritis, or gout.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most 

common type of arthritis in older people. 

OA starts when tissue, called cartilage, 

that pads bones in a joint begins to wear 

away. When the cartilage has worn away, 

your bones rub against each other. OA 

most often happens in your hands, neck, 

lower back, or the large weight-bearing 

joints of your body, such as knees 

and hips.

OA symptoms range from stiffness 

and mild pain that comes and goes to 

pain that doesn’t stop, even when you 

are resting or sleeping. Sometimes OA 

causes your joints to feel stiff after you 

haven’t moved them for while, like after 

riding in the car. The stiffness goes away 

when you move the joint. Over time, OA 

can make it hard to move your joints. 

It can cause a disability if your back, 

knees, or hips are affected.

Why do you get OA? Growing older 

is what most often puts you at risk for 

OA, possibly because your joints and the 

cartilage around them become less able 

to recover from stress and damage. Also, 

OA in the hands may run in families. 
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Arthritis Advice

The word “arthritis” makes many 

people think of painful, stiff joints. 

But, there are many kinds of arthritis, 

each with different symptoms and 

treatments. Most types of arthritis are 

chronic. That means they can go on 

for a long period of time. 

Arthritis can attack joints in 

almost any part of the body. 

Some types of arthritis 

cause changes you 

can see and 

feel—swelling, 

warmth, and 

redness in your joints. 

In some kinds of arthritis, 

the pain and swelling last 

only a short time, but are very 

uncomfortable. Other types of 

arthritis might be less painful, 

but still slowly cause damage to 

your joints. 

Common Kinds Of Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most common 

diseases in the United States. Older 

people most often have osteoarthritis, 

rheumatoid arthritis, or gout.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most 

common type of arthritis in older people. 

OA starts when tissue, called cartilage, 

that pads bones in a joint begins to wear 

away. When the cartilage has worn away, 

your bones rub against each other. OA 

most often happens in your hands, neck, 

lower back, or the large weight-bearing 

joints of your body, such as knees 

and hips.

OA symptoms range from stiffness 

and mild pain that comes and goes to 

pain that doesn’t stop, even when you 

are resting or sleeping. Sometimes OA 

causes your joints to feel stiff after you 

haven’t moved them for while, like after 

riding in the car. The stiffness goes away 

when you move the joint. Over time, OA 

can make it hard to move your joints. 

It can cause a disability if your back, 

knees, or hips are affected.

Why do you get OA? Growing older 

is what most often puts you at risk for 

OA, possibly because your joints and the 

cartilage around them become less able 

to recover from stress and damage. Also, 

OA in the hands may run in families. 
7 8 

See the last panel 

of this AgePage

for more 

information. 

Other Things 

To Do

Along with exercise 

and weight control, there are other 

ways to ease the pain around joints. 

You might find comfort by using a 

heating pad or a cold pack, soaking 

in a warm bath, or swimming in a 

heated pool. 

Your doctor may suggest surgery 

when damage to your joints becomes 

disabling or when other treatments 

do not help with pain. Surgeons can 

repair or replace some joints with 

artificial (man-made) ones.

Other Remedies

Recent studies suggest that 

acupuncture may ease OA pain for 

some people. Research also shows that 

two dietary supplements, glucosamine 

and chondroitin, may help lessen 

moderate to severe OA pain, but they 

seem to have no effect on changes to 

cartilage in the knee. Scientists continue 

attacks. If you have had several attacks, 

your doctor might prescribe medicines 

to prevent future ones.

Exercise Can Help

Along with taking the right medicine 

and properly resting your joints, exercise 

might help with arthritis symptoms. 

Daily exercise, such as walking or 

swimming, helps keep joints moving, 

lessens pain, and makes muscles around 

the joints stronger. 

Three types of exercise are best if 

you have arthritis:

F Range-of-motion exercises, like 

dancing, might relieve stiffness, keep 

you flexible, and help you keep moving 

your joints. 

F Strengthening exercises, such as weight 

training, will keep or add to muscle 

strength. Strong muscles support and 

protect your joints. 

F Aerobic or endurance exercises, like 

bicycle riding, make your heart and 

arteries healthier, help prevent weight 

gain, and also may lessen swelling in 

some joints.

The National Institute on Aging 

(NIA) has a free booklet on how to start 

and stick with a safe exercise program. 
7 8 

See the last panel 

of this AgePage

for more 

information. 

Other Things 

To Do

Along with exercise 

and weight control, there are other 

ways to ease the pain around joints. 

You might find comfort by using a 

heating pad or a cold pack, soaking 

in a warm bath, or swimming in a 

heated pool. 

Your doctor may suggest surgery 

when damage to your joints becomes 

disabling or when other treatments 

do not help with pain. Surgeons can 

repair or replace some joints with 

artificial (man-made) ones.

Other Remedies

Recent studies suggest that 

acupuncture may ease OA pain for 

some people. Research also shows that 

two dietary supplements, glucosamine 

and chondroitin, may help lessen 

moderate to severe OA pain, but they 

seem to have no effect on changes to 

cartilage in the knee. Scientists continue 

attacks. If you have had several attacks, 

your doctor might prescribe medicines 

to prevent future ones.

Exercise Can Help

Along with taking the right medicine 

and properly resting your joints, exercise 

might help with arthritis symptoms. 

Daily exercise, such as walking or 

swimming, helps keep joints moving, 

lessens pain, and makes muscles around 

the joints stronger. 

Three types of exercise are best if 

you have arthritis:

F Range-of-motion exercises, like 

dancing, might relieve stiffness, keep 

you flexible, and help you keep moving 

your joints. 

F Strengthening exercises, such as weight 

training, will keep or add to muscle 

strength. Strong muscles support and 

protect your joints. 

F Aerobic or endurance exercises, like 

bicycle riding, make your heart and 

arteries healthier, help prevent weight 

gain, and also may lessen swelling in 

some joints.

The National Institute on Aging 

(NIA) has a free booklet on how to start 

and stick with a safe exercise program. 
7 8 

See the last panel 

of this AgePage

for more 

information. 

Other Things 

To Do

Along with exercise 

and weight control, there are other 

ways to ease the pain around joints. 

You might find comfort by using a 

heating pad or a cold pack, soaking 

in a warm bath, or swimming in a 

heated pool. 

Your doctor may suggest surgery 

when damage to your joints becomes 

disabling or when other treatments 

do not help with pain. Surgeons can 

repair or replace some joints with 

artificial (man-made) ones.

Other Remedies

Recent studies suggest that 

acupuncture may ease OA pain for 

some people. Research also shows that 

two dietary supplements, glucosamine 

and chondroitin, may help lessen 

moderate to severe OA pain, but they 

seem to have no effect on changes to 

cartilage in the knee. Scientists continue 

attacks. If you have had several attacks, 

your doctor might prescribe medicines 

to prevent future ones.

Exercise Can Help

Along with taking the right medicine 

and properly resting your joints, exercise 

might help with arthritis symptoms. 

Daily exercise, such as walking or 

swimming, helps keep joints moving, 

lessens pain, and makes muscles around 

the joints stronger. 

Three types of exercise are best if 

you have arthritis:

F Range-of-motion exercises, like 

dancing, might relieve stiffness, keep 

you flexible, and help you keep moving 

your joints. 

F Strengthening exercises, such as weight 

training, will keep or add to muscle 

strength. Strong muscles support and 

protect your joints. 

F Aerobic or endurance exercises, like 

bicycle riding, make your heart and 

arteries healthier, help prevent weight 

gain, and also may lessen swelling in 

some joints.

The National Institute on Aging 

(NIA) has a free booklet on how to start 

and stick with a safe exercise program.