What Is Joint Disease?

Joint disease, or arthritis, occurs when the joint area becomes inflamed. Cartilage acts to protect the joint. It allows for smooth movement and also acts as a shock absorber when pressure is placed on the joint, like when you walk. Arthritis occurs when the protective cartilage between the bones erodes. Without the usual amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. In extreme circumstances, even the surfaces of the adjoining bones can erode away.

There are a many types of arthritis, the most common being Osteoarthritis (OA), or degenerative arthritis. A variety of factors—hereditary, developmental, metabolic, and mechanical—influence the processes leading to loss of cartilage in OA patients. Ultimately the cartilage erodes because of wear and tear on the joint.

Another common type of arthritis is called rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease. The body’s immune system normally fights off foreign substances, like viruses. But in an autoimmune disease, the immune system confuses healthy tissue for foreign substances. As a result, the body attacks itself. In the case of RA, the body attacks tissue in the joint. RA can occur at any age, and it affects women more often than men.