Arthritis is the nation's number one crippling disease, striking one in seven people. The country’s 31 million arthritis victims include infants and children, teenagers, young adults, as well as middle-aged and senior citizens. The term, "arthritis," actually refers to 100 different diseases, all of which damage the body's joints and connective tissues (ligaments, bones and cartilage).

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, a wear-and-tear of the joints that comes with age.   While not serious it can cause crippling, especially of the hips and knees. The joint and tissue inflammation and destruction of rheumatoid arthritis are often painful and disabling. Other forms of arthritis include: gout, juvenile arthritis, lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis (stiff spine) and scleroderma (overgrowth of scar-like tissue in joints and other organs).

Although most forms of arthritis cannot be cured, early diagnosis and proper medical treatment can help control pain and avoid deformity or crippling for many of its victims. If a form of arthritis involving other joints or body organs is present, or if complication medical problems such as diabetes or circulatory disease exist, proper diagnosis and treatment will require management by an appropriate physician to satisfactorily treat arthritis.

The "team" approach to patient care leads to more effective disease management and a lessening of symptoms. The "team" can include: rheumatologists, orthopedists, family physicians, internists and physiatrists. Podiatrists play an important role when the feet are involved. A close working relationship among these health professionals and nursing and allied health specialists in arthritis has brought about exciting advances in the early detection and treatment of arthritis.