You may notice more aches and pains in your joints as you age. Maybe it’s harder than it used to be to recover from a hard workout. Maybe you’ve noticed some cracking or clicking in your joints or tenderness in your hands and wrists. As we grow older, the wear and tear on our joints can start to take its toll on the body. While it’s common, it can be a painful sign of aging.
What Is Arthritis?
While there are many forms of arthritis, generally speaking, it’s a disease that can damage the joints. It causes stiffness, cracking, tenderness, and pain. Some arthritis can become so severe that the joints are inflamed, swollen, and painful to the touch. In some cases, arthritis can even make the joints appear deformed.
While some forms of the condition can happen at younger ages, for example, rheumatoid and juvenile arthritis, it’s most common after the age of 50. It can also occur at younger ages for those with repetitive-use injuries like athletes.
