TYPES OF ARTHRITIS

Although there are many types of arthritis, two of the most common and damaging forms strike women more often than men. These are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.


OSTEOARTHRITIS


Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, the cartilage - protective cushioning at the ends of bones - breaks down.when this happens,bones rub against each other at the joint.the result is pain and loss of movement. 

The pain of osteoarthritis can be severe. The fingers and weight-bearing joints of the knees, hips, feet and spine are most usually first occurs after age 40 and is increasingly common in women after age 45.
Although age is a risk factor, research indicates that osteoarthritis is not an inevitable part of the ageing process.
A variety of factors can place stress on the joints and lead to the disease.
Obesity


Repetitive, work relaed activities that use the hands or other joints.


Previous injury to a joint - an accident, for example.


People who participates in high-impact aerobics are at risk for osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints, for example, ballet dancers. Soccer players may also have an increased risk for osteoarthrities becouse they commonly sustain injuries of the feet and ankles.


Genetics can also play a role in osteoarthritis. Some people are born with defective cartilage or slight defects in the their joints fit together. As a person ages, these defects may cause cartilage to break down.