Rheumatism

This is a condition that describes the inflamed soft tissue surrounding a joint eg. tendon or bursal inflammation. It may occur in patients with or without arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear of the joints. It may be due to overuse of a particular joint or due to another medical condition, for example, obesity (i.e. secondary osteoarthritis). The cartilage, which cushions the joints and stops bones from rubbing against each other, is damaged or lost.

Arthritis

Arthritis means “inflammation of the joints”. The term is however usually used for various musculoskeletal (muscle and skeleton) disorders. It can affect people of any age. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.