Joints can handle some heavy pressure. For example, knees have to handle a force of three to four times a person’s total body weight on average when just talking a walk. The force of a deep knee bend during a squat can increase to nine times the body’s weight. So just imagine multiplying weight of more than 150 pounds times a minimum of three or four, and then even more. That can add up to a lot of heavy work on knee joints over a period of time.

Now for the science behind this scenario. The place where two bones meet is called the joint- the bone ends are covered with cartilage, also known as gristle.

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There are several possible causes of arthritis, and these may vary from one individual to another.

Whilst rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, osteoarthritis is generally caused by wear and tear to the joints in the body over the years. The joints are protected by cartilage and other tissues, which are able to repair and heal themselves on a daily basis.

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Spinal arthritis is also known as Spondylosis. It is generally caused by degeneration and wear and tear, although can also be triggered by injury or spinal surgery. It is thought that there may also be a genetic link. Spinal arthritis can affect any area of the spine, and due to the high number of nerves present within the spinal structure can be very painful.

Symptoms; You may notice increased stiffness in the spine, which can be worse in the morning or after periods of inactivity. There will also be pain, which may be exacerbated by movement and which may come and go. There may be additional pain or numbness in the neck, shoulders, arms or legs, including the Sciatic nerve.

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It is possible to identify Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in its early stages if you learn how to recognise the common symptoms of this condition. RA usually starts with one or more symptoms which can change over time with its progression.

RA often starts in middle age, but can also develop in younger people and even children. It causes inflammation of the joint linings (synovium), which results in excessive joint fluid being produced, causing stiffness, pain, characteristic swelling and loss of joint function. In worse cases, it can cause inflammation of the lining of the lungs, heart and surrounding blood vessels. RA can also cause the glands around the mouth and eyes to become inflamed, causing dryness- this is known as Sjogren’s syndrome.

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Sometimes in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, subcutaneous nodules can develop. These tend to be firm and are not tender to touch, and develop on around a quarter of rheumatoid arthritis patients. They can vary in size and usually develop at pressure points such as the back of the forearm, the elbow, metacarpophalangeal joint and pressure points on the knees and feet. The nodules mainly occur in chronic cases of rheumatoid arthritis, and can be associated with joint deformity and extra- articular menifestations of the condition, where organs such as the lungs and eyes are affected.

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