The term arthritis literally means joint inflammation, but is often used to refer to more than 100 different diseases and conditions that affect joints, surrounding tissues and other connective tissues. Diseases or conditions falling under the broad label of arthritis can be characterized as inflammatory, degenerative, metabolic, or infectious. The most common forms of arthritis and rheumatic conditions are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, gout and bursitis. These conditions have a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life. The term arthritis will be used herein this document.
Impact on the Individual
The physical, psychological, social, and economic effects of arthritis present a significant burden for many individuals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports limitations in daily activity for seven million Americans as a result of arthritis, depriving people of their independence and disrupting the lives of family members and other caregivers. Physical effects on well-being include pain, loss of joint motion and fatigue, which often result in a decreased level of physical activity. This puts them at further risk for a variety of other diseases including heart disease, premature death, diabetes, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and overweight. Arthritis can also affect a person’s psychological and social well-being causing stress, depression, anger, and anxiety as well as decreased community involvement, difficulties in school, work and sexual problems.
The physical, psychological, social, and economic effects of arthritis present a significant burden for many individuals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports limitations in daily activity for seven million Americans as a result of arthritis, depriving people of their independence and disrupting the lives of family members and other caregivers. Physical effects on well-being include pain, loss of joint motion and fatigue, which often result in a decreased level of physical activity. This puts them at further risk for a variety of other diseases including heart disease, premature death, diabetes, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and overweight. Arthritis can also affect a person’s psychological and social well-being causing stress, depression, anger, and anxiety as well as decreased community involvement, difficulties in school, work and sexual problems.
Economic Impact
Economically, the implications of arthritis are significant. Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a major cause of missed work. In addition to income loss from work limitation, other economic implications of arthritis include inadequate access to care and financial burdens due to health care product costs. This cost is estimated to be almost $65 billion in direct expenses and lost wages, including an estimated medical bill of $15 billion for such expenses as 39 million physician visits and more than half a million hospitalizations. Osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis) costs roughly three times that of rheumatoid arthritis, with over half of the costs incurred due to work loss.
Economically, the implications of arthritis are significant. Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a major cause of missed work. In addition to income loss from work limitation, other economic implications of arthritis include inadequate access to care and financial burdens due to health care product costs. This cost is estimated to be almost $65 billion in direct expenses and lost wages, including an estimated medical bill of $15 billion for such expenses as 39 million physician visits and more than half a million hospitalizations. Osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis) costs roughly three times that of rheumatoid arthritis, with over half of the costs incurred due to work loss.
Types of Arthritis:
• Osteoarthritis (OA): The most common form of arthritis, most often affecting the Lowerlimbs (hip, knee, ankle etc.) of human body.
• Rhuematoid Arthritis (RA): Chronic inflammation of the joint lining.
• Fibromyalgia: A pain syndrome involving muscle and muscle attachment areas.
• Osteoarthritis (OA): The most common form of arthritis, most often affecting the Lowerlimbs (hip, knee, ankle etc.) of human body.
• Rhuematoid Arthritis (RA): Chronic inflammation of the joint lining.
• Fibromyalgia: A pain syndrome involving muscle and muscle attachment areas.
Primary prevention strategies – those that are designed to prevent a disease or condition from occurring – are somewhat limited in relation to arthritis.
Strategies that are considered to be effective include:
• Weight control. A healthy weight lowers an individual’s risk for certain types of arthritis including osteoarthritis of the knee in women and gout in men.
• Occupational injury prevention. Prevention of traumatic joint injury and repetitive use injury can help prevent arthritis.
• Sports injury prevention. Joint injury prevention strategies such as proper warm-up, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises can help lower the risk of osteoarthritis. Using correct hip brace or a knee brace depending on what part of the body requires prevention.
• Infectious disease control. Prevention of Lyme disease and other infectious arthritis conditions can help limit these types of arthritis.
Secondary prevention strategies – those that reduce the impact of the disease by providing for early diagnosis and treatment include:
• Early diagnosis. Early diagnosis of arthritis needs to be a focus of intervention strategies especially when considering the large numbers of persons that fail to see a physician for their arthritis despite activity limitation.
• Medical treatment. Prompt, effective treatment for arthritis can help to ameliorate the effects of the disease. Examples of this include prompt treatment of gout and Lyme disease, or the use of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis.
Strategies that help prevent complications and disability in arthritis includes:
• Self-management. Weight control and physical activityare two components of a self-management program for the following reasons:
• Physical activity helps maintain joint health and can improve aerobic capacity and alleviate depression.
• Obesity is associated with increased risk of osteoarthritis and puts additional stress on joints.
• Education regarding self-management strategies has been shown to be effective in reducing arthritis pain and associated costs.
• Rehabilitation. Therapies that strengthen muscles, protect joints, manage pain and modify activities can serve to preserve independence, encourage self-management and promotewellness.
• Medical and surgical treatments. Medications can reduce the effects of the disease by limiting disease progression, controlling symptoms and preventing serious complications.
Strategies that are considered to be effective include:
• Weight control. A healthy weight lowers an individual’s risk for certain types of arthritis including osteoarthritis of the knee in women and gout in men.
• Occupational injury prevention. Prevention of traumatic joint injury and repetitive use injury can help prevent arthritis.
• Sports injury prevention. Joint injury prevention strategies such as proper warm-up, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises can help lower the risk of osteoarthritis. Using correct hip brace or a knee brace depending on what part of the body requires prevention.
• Infectious disease control. Prevention of Lyme disease and other infectious arthritis conditions can help limit these types of arthritis.
Secondary prevention strategies – those that reduce the impact of the disease by providing for early diagnosis and treatment include:
• Early diagnosis. Early diagnosis of arthritis needs to be a focus of intervention strategies especially when considering the large numbers of persons that fail to see a physician for their arthritis despite activity limitation.
• Medical treatment. Prompt, effective treatment for arthritis can help to ameliorate the effects of the disease. Examples of this include prompt treatment of gout and Lyme disease, or the use of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis.
Strategies that help prevent complications and disability in arthritis includes:
• Self-management. Weight control and physical activityare two components of a self-management program for the following reasons:
• Physical activity helps maintain joint health and can improve aerobic capacity and alleviate depression.
• Obesity is associated with increased risk of osteoarthritis and puts additional stress on joints.
• Education regarding self-management strategies has been shown to be effective in reducing arthritis pain and associated costs.
• Rehabilitation. Therapies that strengthen muscles, protect joints, manage pain and modify activities can serve to preserve independence, encourage self-management and promotewellness.
• Medical and surgical treatments. Medications can reduce the effects of the disease by limiting disease progression, controlling symptoms and preventing serious complications.
Joint replacement has been found effective for those most severely affected.
