
Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in the joints. It affects people of all ages, including children, and can lead to stiffness, swelling, and tenderness in the joints. While there are many types of arthritis, the two most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that results in the wearing down of cartilage in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. The impact of arthritis varies, but it can lead to muscle weakness and pain. This occurs when inflammation prevents joint movement, causing the attached muscles to weaken. Certain medications used to treat arthritis can also contribute to muscle weakness. Additionally, arthritis can cause ligament, tendon, and bursae issues, further impacting muscle function and strength.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Arthritis means redness and swelling (inflammation) of a joint. |
| Types | Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, scleroderma, gout, fibromyalgia, myositis, polymyalgia rheumatica, ankylosing spondylitis, cervical spondylosis, and more. |
| Causes | Wear and tear of the joint, overuse, injury, age, genetics, immune system attacking the body's own tissues, buildup of crystals in the joints. |
| Symptoms | Pain, stiffness, swelling, tenderness, redness, warmth, fatigue, muscle weakness, joint damage, muscle tightness or spasm. |
| Treatment | Medication, lifestyle changes, surgery, sleep medication, corticosteroids, disease modifiers, physical activity. |
| Prevention | Physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding repeated bending or squatting. |
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What You'll Learn
- Muscle pain is a symptom of arthritis-related diseases like fibromyalgia, myositis, and polymyalgia rheumatica
- Lack of movement due to arthritis can cause muscles to weaken or tighten
- Arthritis can cause tendinitis, which is the inflammation or irritation of tendons
- Bursitis, the inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that pad bones, tendons, and muscles, can be caused by arthritis
- Muscle pain and arthritis pain differ in several ways but are similar in that they both hurt

Muscle pain is a symptom of arthritis-related diseases like fibromyalgia, myositis, and polymyalgia rheumatica
Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases that usually affect the area in or around joints, such as muscles and tendons. Muscle pain is a main symptom in some types of arthritis-related diseases, including fibromyalgia, myositis, and polymyalgia rheumatica.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is characterised by muscle pain and can occur at any age. It is a chronic condition that often lasts a lifetime. Treatment includes exercise, relaxation techniques, analgesic medications, and antidepressants to relieve pain and promote sleep.
Myositis
Myositis is another arthritis-related disease that causes muscle pain.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Polymyalgia rheumatica is a form of inflammatory arthritis that causes joint and muscle pain and stiffness, mainly in the shoulders, arms, hips, and lower back. The condition primarily affects people over 50, with the average age of onset being 70. It is more common among females and those of Scandinavian or Northern European descent. Symptoms include severe stiffness and pain in the muscles of the neck, shoulder, and hip areas. Treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica targets relieving inflammation, often through NSAIDs or corticosteroids.
It is important to note that arthritis itself can also lead to muscle pain. When joints are not moved regularly, the surrounding muscles can weaken or become tight, leading to stiffness and pain when attempting to move them.
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Lack of movement due to arthritis can cause muscles to weaken or tighten
Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in the joints. It refers to more than 100 different diseases that usually affect the area in or around joints, such as muscles and tendons. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease. It is caused by the wear and tear of the joint over time or because of overuse.
When people have arthritis, they often experience stiffness in their joints, which can make movement difficult and painful. This lack of movement and use of the joints can lead to the surrounding muscles weakening or tightening. The joint can stiffen or even freeze, and the muscles will hurt when trying to move due to being still for so long.
To help manage arthritis pain and prevent muscle weakness, it is important to keep the joints moving as much as possible. This can include performing body stretches once or twice daily and ensuring you are wearing proper footwear with shock-absorbing soles. Additionally, when you need to pick something up off the ground, it is recommended to squat down first, rather than bending over.
Medications can also help to manage arthritis pain and reduce inflammation. Acetaminophen is often the first choice of pain medication as it is safe and has few side effects. Anti-inflammatory medications can also be used but may not be suitable for everyone, so it is important to consult a pharmacist or healthcare provider before taking any new medication.
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Arthritis can cause tendinitis, which is the inflammation or irritation of tendons
Arthritis refers to joint inflammation and includes over 100 different diseases that usually affect the area in or around joints, such as muscles and tendons. It can cause muscle pain and aching due to a lack of use or when trying to support joints with arthritis. Arthritis can also cause tendinitis, which is the inflammation or irritation of tendons. Tendons are strong bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Tendinitis can occur in any area of the body where a tendon connects a bone to a muscle, but it is most common around the shoulders, knees, elbows, heels, and base of the thumb.
Tendinitis is often caused by repetitive strain or overuse injury, such as running, throwing, or other sports, as well as certain medications or underlying medical conditions. It can also be caused by a sudden injury, such as a fall or blow to the body. Symptoms of tendinitis include pain, soreness, and swelling around the affected joint, usually near where the tendon attaches to the bone. The condition can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).
Treatment for tendinitis typically involves rest and allowing the tendon to heal, which can be challenging for active individuals or athletes. Physical therapy is often recommended to reduce inflammation, improve soft tissue mobility, and restore movement, function, and strength. Eccentric loading of the tendon and eccentric exercises, such as resistance training, are also beneficial for improving the condition and building muscle and collagen in tendons. In some cases, surgery may be required for severe symptoms that do not respond to other treatments.
It is important to note that tendinitis is different from tendinosis, which is also a condition related to tendon inflammation or irritation. Tendinosis occurs when the initial inflammation doesn't fully go away, leading to the deterioration of collagen fibers over time. Tendinosis takes longer to heal than tendonitis and may require advanced treatments such as percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy (PUT) or stem cell therapy.
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Bursitis, the inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that pad bones, tendons, and muscles, can be caused by arthritis
Bursitis is the inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that pad bones, tendons, and muscles, and it can be caused by arthritis. It is a type of soft tissue condition that commonly affects the shoulder, elbow, hip, buttocks, knees, and calf. Athletes, older adults, and people who perform repetitive movements are more likely to get bursitis due to overuse injury.
Bursitis is sometimes mistaken for arthritis because the pain occurs near a joint. The pain of bursitis can occur suddenly and may last for days or longer, usually improving with rest or treatment. It is characterised by swelling, tenderness, and pain in areas around a joint. It will be painful to move the affected joint through its full range of motion.
Bursitis can develop when a tiny sac (bursa) that prevents tissue and joints from rubbing becomes inflamed. The bursa is a small sac that serves as a cushion between tissue and joints to prevent friction. When the bursa suddenly becomes inflamed, it can cause pain, especially in the elbow, hips, or shoulder. Like arthritis, bursitis can also cause stiffness and swelling.
Bursitis can be caused by arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or gout. It can also be caused by bruising or cuts becoming infected, bad posture or walking habits, and stress on soft tissues from an abnormal or poorly positioned joint or bone. Metabolic conditions such as diabetes can also cause bursitis.
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Muscle pain and arthritis pain differ in several ways but are similar in that they both hurt
Muscle pain and arthritis pain are similar in that they both hurt, but they differ in several ways. Arthritis pain arises from joint problems, whereas muscle pain originates in the muscles. Arthritis pain is usually associated with stiffness, swelling, and a gritty feeling in the joint, and it increases with load or movement. On the other hand, muscle pain is often felt as a sharp and temporary pain and is typically localised to a muscle group, with no swelling in the joint.
Arthritis is joint inflammation and refers to a group of over 100 diseases that usually affect the area in or around joints, such as muscles and tendons. It can also affect other parts of the body, including the skin and internal organs. The most common type is degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), which is not characterised by prominent joint inflammation. Other types include gout (an inflammatory type) and rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory arthritis.
Muscle pain, on the other hand, can be caused by intense exercise, a fall, injury, or illness. It is often temporary and can be treated with ice, massage, and stretching. It is important to warm up and stretch before and after physical activity, stay hydrated, and wear proper sports equipment to prevent and treat muscle pain.
Both arthritis and muscle pain can be treated with acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain reliever with few side effects. Anti-inflammatory medications are also available over the counter but may have undesirable effects and should be used with caution. For more severe arthritis pain, doctors may prescribe corticosteroids, which can be injected for quick relief, but these must be monitored due to potential side effects.
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Frequently asked questions
Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint. It refers to more than 100 different diseases that usually affect the area in or around joints such as muscles and tendons.
When inflammation stops you from moving your joints, the attached muscles can get weak. This can also lead to a condition called myositis, which weakens them.
The most common symptoms include pain in one or more joints that doesn't go away, or comes back. Other symptoms include stiffness, swelling, and tenderness in your joints.
You can lessen your arthritic pain by adopting a few good habits. Change your posture often to reduce stiffness in your muscles and joints, move the painful joint as often as possible, and perform body stretches once or twice daily.











































