[2] Early treatment for arthritis commonly includes resting the affected joint and conservative measures such as heating or icing.

[2] Arthritis is a common reason people are unable to carry out their work and can result in decreased ability to complete activities of daily living.

[2][6] Osteoarthritis occurs from damage to joint cartilage from prior injury or long-term wear-and-tear, resulting in bone-to-bone contact and grinding.

[6] In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system itself, which normally serves to protect against infection and diseases, attacks the lining of the joint capsule, causing inflammation and swelling.

[6][47] Gout is a form of arthritis caused by excessive uric acid production, resulting in urate crystals depositing in joints, particularly in extremities, such as toes.

OA symptoms typically begin with minor pain during physical activity, but can eventually progress to be present at rest.

OA typically affects the weight-bearing joints, such as the back, knee and hip due to the mechanical nature of this disease process.

The strongest predictor of osteoarthritis is increased age, likely due to the declining ability of chondrocytes to maintain the structural integrity of cartilage.

RA often affects joints in the fingers, wrists, knees and elbows, is symmetrical (appears on both sides of the body), and can lead to severe progressive deformity in a matter of years if not adequately treated.

In children, the disorder can present with a skin rash, fever, pain, disability, and limitations in daily activities.

[47][66] One of the main triggers of bone erosion in the joints in rheumatoid arthritis is inflammation of the synovium (lining of the joint capsule), caused in part by the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), a cell surface protein present in Th17 cells and osteoblasts.

[69] Other features commonly seen in patients with Lupus include a skin rash (pictured on the right), extreme photosensitivity, hair loss, kidney problems, and shortness of breath secondary to scarring that occurs in the lungs.

[49] Thus, it is also recommended that patients with gout adhere to a diet rich in fiber, vegetables, and whole grains, while limiting the intake of alcohol and fatty foods.

Infectious arthritis must be rapidly diagnosed and treated promptly in order to prevent irreversible joint damage.

Treatment options vary depending on the type of arthritis and include physical therapy, exercise and diet, orthopedic bracing, and oral and topical medications.

[2] In general, studies have shown that physical exercise of the affected joint can noticeably improve long-term pain relief.

Physical therapy has been shown to significantly improve function, decrease pain, and delay the need for surgical intervention in advanced cases.

Assistive technology is a tool used to aid a person's disability by reducing their physical barriers by improving the use of their damaged body part, typically after an amputation.

For example, the first-line treatment for osteoarthritis is acetaminophen (paracetamol) while for inflammatory arthritis it involves non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.

[91] Th17 cells are present in higher quantities at the site of bone destruction in joints and produce inflammatory cytokines associated with inflammation, such as interleukin-17 (IL-17).

[92] Arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee provides no additional benefit to patients when compared to optimized physical and medical therapy.

[94] Following joint replacement surgery, patients can expect to get back to several physical activities including those such as swimming, tennis, and golf.

It is now possible to 3-D print adaptive aids, which have been released as open source hardware to reduce patient costs.

[99] Further research is required to determine if transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for knee osteoarthritis is effective for controlling pain.

Adults with co-morbid conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, were seen to have a higher than average prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis (49.3%, 47.1%, and 30.6% respectively).

A systematic review assessed the prevalence of arthritis in Africa and included twenty population-based and seven hospital-based studies.

The results of the systematic review were as follows:[108] Evidence of osteoarthritis and potentially inflammatory arthritis has been discovered in dinosaurs.

[112] In 1715, William Musgrave published the second edition of his most important medical work, De arthritide symptomatica, which concerned arthritis and its effects.

[113] Augustin Jacob Landré-Beauvais, a 28-year-old resident physician at Salpêtrière Asylum in France was the first person to describe the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Though Landré-Beauvais' classification of rheumatoid arthritis as a relative of gout was inaccurate, his dissertation encouraged others to further study the disease.