Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types of generalized arthritis. Unfortunately, many think that the two terms are interchangeable but in fact, they are two very different diseases with different treatments. As treatments differ, it is vital that the correct diagnosis is made.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is primarily a disease of the cartilage that cushions the joints, leading to progressive thinning of that cushion.
More than just “wear and tear” leads to osteoarthritis. Cartilage undergoes constant recycling of removing old cartilage and replacing it with new. With aging, the recycling process breaks down and osteoarthritis then begins to form.
The most common joints affected are the fingers, base of the thumb, hip, knee, spine, and the great toe (a bunion). Risk factors for developing osteoarthritis include: obesity, aging, and situations that put one at risk at certain joints. For example, occupations that...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Suggested Reading
Klippel, J. H. (Ed.). (2001). Primer of rheumatic diseases (12th ed.). Atlanta, GA: Arthritis Foundation.
Koopman, W. J. (Ed.). (1997). Arthritis and allied conditions (13th ed.). Philadelphia: Williams & Wilkins.
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers
About this entry
Cite this entry
Kuchynski, M. (2004). Arthritis. In: Encyclopedia of Women’s Health. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48113-0_38
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48113-0_38
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-306-48073-7
Online ISBN: 978-0-306-48113-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive