There are some treatments, however, that will be commonly applied to a number of forms of arthritis, such as painkillers and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.
For some types of arthritis, specialist drugs can be taken to slow the development of the condition.
Surgery is a less common treatment but may be needed to treat particular problems that can’t otherwise be treated.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is caused by damage to the joints which can be brought on by a number of factors including joint injury, other forms of arthritis and excess pressure on the joints caused by obesity.
Whilst osteoarthritis is more common in the elderly, younger people can also develop the condition. This form of arthritis most commonly affects the knees, hips and the joints in the hands, making these joints stiff and painful.
Life with osteoarthritis can be made easier through taking exercise and, if overweight, reducing the strain on your joints. For this reason, water exercises (aquatic exercises) and swimming are particularly good for people that have osteoarthritis in their knees or hips.