Arrhritis not possible to prevent osteoarthritis altogether. Body image empowerment Arthritis joint health need more information Arthritis joint health available resources hwalth your language or another language, please visit our website or contact the NIAMS Information Clearinghouse. Find out more about rheumatoid arthritis. Try these tips for healthy knees and maintaining joint health.

Arthritis joint health -

It usually causes joint pain, swelling, stiffness and limited movement. There are more than different types of arthritis. The cause of some forms is unknown, but arthritis can also be the result of disease, infection, genetic defect, injury, or overuse.

Arthritis affects more than 50 million adults in the United States and is the nation's most common cause of disability. There is no known cure, but proper early treatment can help prevent permanent joint damage. Arthritis may also cause damage to joint cartilage and surrounding structures.

This type of damage can lead to weakness of the joint and can affect many basic daily tasks, such as walking, climbing stairs, using a computer keyboard and, even, brushing your teeth.

If you think you may have arthritis, your health care team will ask questions about your medical history, then perform a physical exam. Your health care team may also perform blood tests and joint x-rays to check for infection and other causes of arthritis.

Your doctor may also remove a sample of joint fluid with a needle and send it to a lab to be checked. Though there is no known cure for arthritis, proper early diagnosis and creation of a personalized treatment plan can help you prevent permanent joint damage.

Arthritis treatment options include lifestyle changes, medication and even surgery for severely damaged joints. The goal of all these treatments is to reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent further joint damage. Access myPennMedicine For Patients and Visitors.

Find a Program or Service Find a Location Patient Information. Patient Information. However, the more weight you lose, the more benefits you may gain, such as:. A doctor can help you set a target weight and design a program to help you reach that target. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends getting minutes of physical activity per week.

Some good exercise options include low-impact exercises , such as:. Heat and cold treatments may help relieve arthritis pain and inflammation. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical treatment that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on your body.

Some research suggests that it may help alleviate arthritis pain and improve quality of life and physical function. The risk of harm with acupuncture is considerably low. However, more research is needed to fully support its benefits for arthritis treatment.

People with RA are two times more likely than people without RA to have depression. While RA may impact your mental health, stress, anxiety, and depression may also increase inflammation in your body and worsen arthritis. Some relaxation techniques may help reduce the pain of arthritis by lowering stress.

According to the Arthritis Foundation , these may include:. Research suggests that dietary choices may affect people living with arthritis. For example, vegan and Mediterranean diets have been associated with decreased disease activity. Omega-3 fatty acids may help decrease joint stiffness and pain.

Turmeric, the yellow spice common in Indian dishes, contains a chemical called curcumin. This may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could help reduce arthritis pain and inflammation. More research is needed to show how turmeric works.

However, adding a small amount of this mild but tasty spice to your dinner is likely to be a safe option. Massage can provide an overall sense of well-being and help manage joint pain, stiffness, and discomfort. A study also found that a Swedish massage could help reduce the amount of pain relievers people take to manage their symptoms of arthritis.

They add, however, that massage is unlikely to pose a risk and may provide indirect benefits, such as reducing stress. Ask a doctor to recommend a massage therapist who has experience treating people with arthritis. Alternatively, you could ask a physical therapist to teach you self-massage.

Some herbal supplements may help reduce joint pain. Some of these herbs include:. Therefore, you cannot be sure exactly what a product contains. Be sure to buy from a reputable source. Always talk to a doctor before trying a new supplement, as some can cause side effects and dangerous drug interactions.

Some over-the-counter OTC pain relievers for arthritis may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , acetaminophen Tylenol , and capsaicin topical creams. Prescription medications like immunotherapy and corticosteroids could provide pain relief by decreasing inflammation.

The best way to help prevent arthritis from getting worse is to follow your treatment plan. This may include taking medications, doing daily exercises and stretches, practicing meditation, and eating a well-balanced diet.

Some ways to help manage arthritis flare-ups may include resting your joints, using heat and ice treatments, and using OTC pain relievers and NSAIDs. Arthritis refers to a group of conditions that may cause stiffness, inflammation, and pain in your joints.

A treatment plan may help provide pain relief, slow disease progression, and improve your quality of life. Speak with a healthcare professional if arthritis is impacting your daily functions. I broke 3 of my fingers 10 years ago and have been experiencing arthritis pain ever since.

The only thing that really works for me is massaging them, thankfully it really only happens when the seasons get cold. I can't really imagine taking pain meds for it yet since it's just my hands and not terrible. We encourage our readers to share their unique experiences to create a helpful and informative community here on Healthline.

Our editors will also review every comment before publishing, ensuring our high level of medical integrity. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

VIEW ALL HISTORY. Magnesium has become a popular sleep aid. Learn the effects of magnesium on the body, particularly on the processes that promote sleep. Potassium iodide can protect your thyroid gland in the event of exposure to nuclear radiation.

Back to Health Arthritis joint health to Z. Arthritis is Arthritiis common condition that causes Arthritis joint health and Afthritis in High-intensity exercise tips joint. In the UK, millions of people have arthritis or other, similar conditions that affect the joints. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the 2 most common types of arthritis. It's also more common in women and people with a family history of the condition. Arthritis joint health pain caused by arthritis affects millions of Arthritis joint health jlint the United States Arthritis joint health year. Arrhritis one in four adults with arthritis—15 million people—report experiencing severe joint pain related to arthritis. Children with arthritis Aethritis pain as joiny. There Liver detox plan limited information about pain in children in the general population. Learn about statistics on arthritis-related severe joint pain in the United States, and recommended pain management strategies that can help people with arthritis control their pain. Severe joint pain : When an individual rates his or her pain as 7 or higher out of 10 on a scale of 0 no pain to 10 as bad as it can be. Persistent pain : When an individual reports having pain of any severity on most or all days in the past 3 months.