HealthInfo Canterbury
Overview of arthritis & related disorders
Mō te pona kakā me ngā āhuatanga e hāngai ana
Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more of your joints. Along with several arthritis-related disorders, it's very common in New Zealand. There are at least 140 different types of arthritis and arthritis-related disorders, which affect people of all ages from young babies to older people.
There's no single cause of arthritis, but several things seem to increase the likelihood of getting it:
- age – people aged over 40 are more likely to get it
- gender – it's more common in women
- weight – you're more likely to get arthritis, especially in your knees, if you're an unhealthy weight
- injury – you're more likely to get arthritis if you've had an injury, operation or repeated strain at a joint
- genes – you may inherit genes from your parents that make it more likely you'll get arthritis
- joint infections – infection in a joint is also called septic arthritis. If this isn't treated early enough it can cause permanent damage that can lead to osteoarthritis.
Although there's no cure for arthritis, there are many treatments that can relieve your symptoms and slow down the speed at which it gets worse. Many people with arthritis are able to manage their pain, remain active and lead fulfilling lives.
You can get help through Arthritis New Zealand, whose main aim is to enable a better quality of life for people affected by arthritis. Arthritis educators are available throughout New Zealand to provide information and advice on the day-to-day management of arthritis. For more information about Arthritis New Zealand, please phone 0800-663-463 (toll free) or visit the website.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Arthritis New Zealand
Information, support, news and events for people with arthritis and their families.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed July 2021.
Review key: HIART-38558
