As the most common cause of disability in Australia, arthritis affects a large number of Australians on a daily basis. This is not a single health condition. In fact, the term arthritis encompasses more than 100 different conditions related to the joint pain and damage. People of all ages can develop joint disease, however it's more common among people over the age of 60. What's more, women tend to be at greater rick of developing arthritis than men. It leads to permanent alterations in the joints that result that can be seen on an X-ray. Aside from causing damage to the joints and the surrounding tissue, arthritis can also affect other organs such as the the lungs, kidneys, and heart. In most cases, the condition is characterized by inflammation within the joints that limits function and mobility.
