Arthritis is a general term for more than 150 medical conditions that affect the body, specifically the joints.
Symptoms and characteristics
Arthritis-related conditions include pain, stiffness, swelling and damage to the joints. This can result in joint weakness and instability that can interfere with tasks such as walking, driving a car or holding a pen or fork.
Statistics
The three most common forms of arthritis which account for 95% of cases in Australia include - Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout. Arthritis is the major cause of disability and chronic pain in Australia, with 3.4 million Australians affected.
60 percent of all people with arthritic based diseases are of working age.
Workplace adjustments and solutions
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
Reference
Arthritis Australia 2006, Arthritis Australia, New South Wales, viewed 23 February 2007, <http://www.arthritisaustralia.com.au>.
Links to specific types of arthritis