Skip to Content Skip to Navigation

What is Arthritis

Arthritis is a name for a group of over 100 conditions affecting the joints. It can affect many different parts of the joint and nearly every joint in the body.

pexels marcus aurelius 6787769

What is arthritis?

While arthritis is very common – affecting more than 3.9 million adults and children in Australia – it’s not well understood.

There are over 100 forms of arthritis. Each type of arthritis affects you and your joints in different ways. Some forms of arthritis can also involve other parts of the body, such as the eyes. The most common forms of arthritis are:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Gout
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
Park, grandparents and children holding hands while walking as a family together in retirement. Senior man, woman and grandkids in a nature garden for bonding on summer holiday or vacation with flare.
Street decoration colorful umbrellas background

Types of Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella term for a group of chronic medical conditions often causing pain and stiffness. There are over 100 types of arthritis. Each type of arthritis can affect you and all parts of your body differently.

Read More
pexels marcus aurelius 6787769

Living with Arthritis

Although arthritis can be difficult to live with, there are simple measures that can help you manage your symptoms and live a full life.

Read More
AdobeStock_344467476 1200x800

Online resources

Video, eLearning and more! Use our collection of videos, eLearning, webinars and info sheets to better understand and manage arthritis.

Read More
adam niescioruk 9ChfwZzv4ys unsplash scaled e1643771945687 1200x837

Multicultural fact sheets

A number of fact sheets have been translated into several languages and are available through the Arthritis Australia website.

Read More
banner internal

Arthritis Matters Magazine

Published for you seasonally. Download the latest Arthritis Matters Magazine as a PDF, or check out the back-catalogue below.

Read More
AdobeStock_583450386

Annual Reports

Annual Reports are the best place for organisational updates, financial information and major reporting. You’ll find all official Annual Reports back to 2015-16 below.

Read More
Female and male businesspeople handshake close up photo

Other organisations

Here are several organisations with whom we collaborate to make a meaningful impact within the arthritis community in South Australia.

Read More

Is rheumatism different to arthritis?

Rheumatism is just a more general word that was used in the past. It described any pain in your bones, muscles and joints.

We know more about problems with bones, muscles and joints, so we use words like back pain, tendonitis and arthritis to describe these conditions now. Talk to your doctor if you have pain and stiffness that:

  • Starts for no clear reason
  • Lasts for more than a few days
  • Comes on with swelling, redness and warmth of your joints
AdobeStock_426312322 1 1200x800

Is my sore joint arthritis?

There are many different reasons why your joints may be sore. Not all pain in muscles and joints is caused by arthritis.

It could be from an injury or using your joints and muscles in an unusual way (for example, playing a new sport or lifting heavy boxes).

Talk to your doctor if you have pain and stiffness that:

  • starts for no clear reason
  • lasts for more than a few days
  • comes on with swelling, redness and warmth of your joints

Read more on the info sheet: What is Arthritis?

pdf 215.99kB

shutterstock_566470942
Donate Infoline 1800 011 041