The main types
- Osteoarthritis, the most common form, where cartilage in the joint wears down over time. Most often affects knees, hips, hands and the spine.
- Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, typically on both sides of the body.
- Gout, caused by uric acid crystals forming in a joint, often the big toe, and usually arriving as sudden severe attacks.
- Ankylosing spondylitis, which mainly affects the spine and the joints of the pelvis.
- Juvenile arthritis, the forms that begin in childhood.
The distinction matters because these conditions are managed quite differently from one another.
Risk factors
Advancing age, family history, carrying excess weight, smoking, repetitive joint loading through work or sport, and previous injury to a joint. Genetics play a part in most types, and several forms originate in problems with the immune system rather than with wear.
How arthritis is assessed
A doctor examines the affected joints and asks about your symptoms, how they behave through the day, and your family history. Investigation may include blood tests, a sample of joint fluid, x-ray, ultrasound or CT. Where an inflammatory or autoimmune type is suspected, a rheumatologist is usually involved.
Getting the type right is the point of the assessment, because the management for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout diverge substantially.
How arthritis is usually managed in Australia
Exercise is described as one of the most effective ways to treat arthritis, and it is central to most management plans despite being counterintuitive when movement is what hurts. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy support that work and adapt daily tasks around the joints affected.
Beyond movement, management commonly includes weight management where relevant, medicines that differ sharply by type, and in some cases joint surgery. Inflammatory arthritis in particular has medicines aimed at the disease process itself rather than only at symptoms, and early treatment matters for long-term joint preservation.
