Arthritis
The term Arthritis means joint inflammation. While often referred to as if it were a single disease, arthritis is actually a term used for a group of more than 100 conditions that collectively affect nearly 46 million adults. . The two types most commonly related to hop pain are osteoarthritis, which involves wear and tear of cartilage (the tough, smooth tissue that covers the ends of the bones and serves as a cushion which enables the bones to glide against one another) and those associated with inflammation resulting from an overactive immune system such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis-related joint problems include pain, stiffness, inflammation and damage to joint cartilage and surrounding structures. This damage can lead to joint weakness, instability and visible deformities that, depending on the location of joint involvement, can interfere with the most basic daily tasks such as walking or climbing stairs.
The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis and often several factors contribute to a person developing this common problem. Some of the risk factors include genetics, age, weight, previous injury, illness and infection.
