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Understanding arthritis

Learn about different arthritis and MSK conditions, symptoms and treatments, and explore our guides to diagnosis, and for carers, young people and families.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis causes pain and inflammation in your joints, it's estimated that around 10 million people in the UK are living with a type of arthritis.

Conditions

What types of arthritis are there? Explore our comprehensive directory covering the 7 types of arthritis and related musculoskeletal disorders.

Arthritis treatments

Treatments for arthritis, including drugs, TENS, splints, therapies, surgery, your inflammatory arthritis pathway and who will treat you.

Managing arthritis symptoms

Find out about managing pain and fatigue caused by arthritis, and how exercise, a healthy diet and getting a good night's sleep can help you.

Getting medical help and support

Learn about therapies and surgery, the professionals in your healthcare team, and complementary treatments.

How joints work

The anatomy of a joint, how joints work, how joints help us to move and how arthritis affects a joint.

Have you seen...?

Types of arthritis explained

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common condition which can affect any joint in the body. It’s most likely to affect the joints that carry most of our weight or joints that we use a lot in everyday life. 

Watch our video explainer
Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic (soh-rye-at-ik) arthritis is an auto-immune condition that causes joint pain, swelling and stiffness. You could develop it if you're living with the skin condition psoriasis. 

Watch our video explainer
Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition that causes joint pain and stiffness. This happens when the immune system, our body’s self-defence system, attacks healthy cells.

Watch our video explainer
Guide to arthritis diagnosis

Guide to arthritis diagnosis

If you've been diagnosed with arthritis, we're here to support you all the way: not only with understanding your condition, doctor's appointments, medication, lifestyle changes and managing your symptoms but supporting you to explore your options so that your future looks brighter ahead. 

Guide to diagnosis
Ask the experts: Your questions answered

Ask the experts: Your questions answered

Our clinical and expert contributors – including doctors, nurses, surgeons, dieticians and physiotherapists – answer your questions around arthritis conditions, living with arthritis, diet and exercise, risk factors, treatments and more. 

Ask the experts
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Arthritis UK support and resources