Understanding the two most common types and how to lessen their effects will help you cope with the condition.
Arthritis can bring anything from slight tightness to severe pain and lasting disability.
While you cannot reverse joint damage that has already occurred, you can slow its progress and improve the movement in your joints. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, affects 16 million Americans. It results from the breakdown of a slippery material called cartilage that covers and cushions the ends of each bone in a joint. As cartilage wears away, bones rub together, causing discomfort and stiffness. A joint may lose its proper shape or develop bony bumps called spurs that can limit movement.