Arthritis and other types of musculoskeletal pain are common, worldwide problems. They affect people regardless of age, gender, race, class or country.
Millions of people in the UK alone will experience some form of muscle or joint pain each year, although many won’t have persistent or severe symptoms.
It is estimated that more than eight million have osteoarthritis and more than 400,000 have rheumatoid arthritis.
About 12,000 children under the age of 16 have juvenile forms of arthritis.
Around 1.5 million people have gout.
About 10,000 people have lupus (SLE).