Types of Arthritis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a condition that mainly affects the spine. The joints of the neck, back and pelvis become inflamed, causing pain and stiffness.

Gout is a common and painful condition that affects the joints. Small crystals form in and around the joint, causing inflammation, pain and swelling.

In Australia about 6000 children are affected by arthritis, making it as common as Type 1 diabetes.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that affects the whole joint including bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscles.

Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints. This causes the joints to become painful, stiff and often swollen. Usually only people who have a skin disease called psoriasis are affected by psoriatic arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling of the joints. The normal role of your body’s immune system is to fight off infections to keep you healthy.

The word ‘scleroderma’ means ‘hard skin’. Scleroderma affects the connective tissues of the body (tissues that hold together joints, muscles, blood vessels and internal organs).

There are over 100 different types of arthritis. In this section we look at a number of these. If you live with a type of arthritis not on this site, please contact our information line.