JOINT FIX
DR ROD HUGHES, is a consultant rheumatologist at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey
The word arthritis simply means inflammation of the joints. There are around 20 different types of the disease, however osteoarthritis – which arises from natural wear and tear of a joint – is generally what we mean by the term. Osteoarthritis is by far the most common form of the condition, affecting around 60 per cent of people over the age of 50 in at least one joint. It occurs more frequently in women – particularly around the menopause when a drop in oestrogen levels can lead to an acceleration of inflammation in the joints. Any joint can be affected, but the condition typically occurs in the neck, back and shoulders, hips, knees and hands.