The Different Types of Arthritis and Body Parts Commonly Affected

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis. OA is called “wear and tear” arthritis because it develops when your cartilage deteriorates, causing joints to rub together.

The most common joints affected by OA include the hands, knees, hips, neck, and lower back.³

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease caused by your body’s immune system attacking your joint tissue. Over time, joint tissue damage can cause pain and joint shape changes. RA commonly affects the hands, wrists, and knees.⁴

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis that is linked with psoriasis, a chronic skin disease where the body’s immune system attacks your own skin cells. Some people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis symptoms caused by joint inflammation. Psoriatic arthritis can affect the joints, skin, fingernails, and toenails.

If your hands or wrists are stiff, painful, or tender, it could be arthritis. Hand and wrist joints are among some of the most common joints affected by many forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriatic arthritis.

Knee arthritis can make your knees stiff and swollen, making it difficult to bend and straighten your knees. Your symptoms may be worse after you’ve been sitting or resting. Your symptoms could flare up after overdoing activities like jumping or squats that require bending at your knees.

Arthritis symptoms can affect the base of your thumb, knuckles, and finger joints. Over time, arthritis can cause bony knots or nodes to form on your joints.

In psoriatic arthritis—a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects the joints, skin, and nails—symptoms can include swollen fingers or fingernail changes.

Hip arthritis symptoms can feel like pain, stiffness, or weakness in the hip, groin, or outer thigh area. You may hear joint noises or sounds called crepitus when you move your hip.

The cause of hip arthritis can vary depending on the type. It can affect your mobility and range of motion.

Your shoulder and elbow joints can develop arthritis caused by inflammation or wear and tear. Symptoms like pain, stiffness, or grinding can make it challenging to use your full range of motion.

Repetitive motions you do over and over can cause joint wear and tear, like swinging a golf club or using a garden tool.

The many joints in your ankles and feet can be susceptible to arthritis. If you have arthritis in your foot joints or ankles, your range of motion may be limited.

Your symptoms may make it difficult to walk or be on your feet.

With arthritis of the big toe, also called hallux rigidus, your toe’s range of motion decreases over time, and standing or walking may be difficult or uncomfortable. Arthritis of the big toe is one of the most common types of arthritis that affects the foot. Over time, some people develop a bunion or callus on top of their foot.²

If you have lower back pain, it may be caused by arthritis. Lower back arthritis can lead to inflexibility in your spine, making it difficult to straighten your back or turn your neck.