A joint is a structure created by the joining of two or more bones. Most joints of the body are moveable. For example, the elbow joint allows you to flex or extend your arm. Other joints are immobile, for example, the joints of the skull, also...
Cysts are benign fluid-filled or tissue-filled sacs that develop on or within the body. In children, one disease-- polycystic kidney disease--is associated with cyst formation in the kidneys. Other cysts usually develop in response to repetitive...
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a serious joint disease that can also affect surrounding tissues. In all cases, rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, pain and stiffness in affected joints. RA can appear without warning, and in some cases it...
Knee and ankle joint pain--especially severe pain from immediate injuries or from chronic conditions--disrupt a person's ability to move normally. Acute pain is relieved with pain medication, immobilization, rest, ice, heat and therapeutic...
The Arthritis Foundation reports that rheumatoid arthritis affects 1.3 million people in the United States. It is a life-long disease that is characterized by inflammation of the synovial membrane of joints. This inflammation then leads to...
According to the Arthritis Foundation, rheumatoid arthritis affects about 1.3 million people in the United States. It is a life-long disease in which there is inflammation of the synovial membrane, which is the part of the joint that secretes...
Chronic hip pain compromises all of your body's movements. Certain exercises may help alleviate pain, increase your range of motion or correct hip muscular imbalances, but a professional evaluation and diagnosis of your problem should precede any...
The Arthritis Foundation defines arthritis as a result of an autoimmune disorder associated with joint inflammation, an injury or the "wearing out" process of aging. The reasons behind most types of arthritis are obvious---wearing out, joint...
There are five types of membranes found within the body. Membranes are flat sheets of tissue that cover or line parts of the body and are typically composed of epithelial cells and connective tissue. Epithelial cells cover the inner and outer...
Synovitis is an inflammation of your synovial membrane, the tissues that line the surface of your synovial joints, which are located in your wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips and knees. Synovitis can occur in association with arthritis, rheumatism,...
Rheumatic diseases include any disease state that affects the joints of the body. Typically caused by an autoimmune disorder, rheumatic disorders range from mildly aggravating to severely disabling. Rheumatic disorders, which can affect one joint...
Arthritis affects over 46 million Americans. Arthritis may be caused by a viral, bacterial or fungal infection of joints. Arthritis can also occur due to an inherited defect or an injury, or it may be caused by an immune response in the body. In...
For those with rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, exercise can be very intimidating when joints are stiff and achy. While it was previously postulated that exercise should be avoided by arthritis sufferers, experts now know that it actually improves the...
Synovial joints offer the widest range of motion for your body, making them an essential part of exercise. Ninety percent of the body's joints are synovial joints; without them, exercising would be difficult. These joints provide lubrication and...
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease define a healthy joint as one in which the ends of the bones are covered by a smooth casing of cartilage. They are further encapsulated by what is called the synovial...
The most mobile of all joints in the human body, the ball and socket joint consists of a rounded surface that articulates with a concave surface. The shoulder joint and the hip joint are large ball and socket joints.
The Children's Hospital Boston describes a joint as the point where two bones meet. Components of joints include a sheet of tissue called the synovial membrane, which seals the joint and encompasses synovial fluid; ligaments, which encompass the...
The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body, and it is the most complex and most often injured joint. The knee joint is a synovial, single-axis, hinge joint. This means it has a synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid, lubricating...
Muscles in your body produce a molecule called creatine that can be used to rapidly restore energy during exercise. Taken as a supplement for strength, muscle growth and heart problems, creatine absorbs a large amount of water in the body. It is...
The Arthritis Foundation defines rheumatoid arthritis as a condition where there is inflammation of the synovial membrane--the part of the joints that secretes a lubricant called synovial fluid. The effects of this inflammation are red, swollen...
A joint is made of cartilage, synovial membrane, ligaments, tendons, bursas and synovial fluid. The four types of joints are ball-and-socket, hinge, pivot and ellipsoidal. Each type of joint allows a distinct type of movement. Diagnosing the cause...
A normally functioning knee is required to perform most activities of daily living. Injury, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can affect the knee's ability to function without pain. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons,...
The four major types of joints in the human body serve various functions. Each has its own capabilities and limitations that determine how we move. There are 206 bones in the human body and a joint occurs at every place where one of these bones...
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, refers to an inflammation of the joints, while "osteo," or osteoarthritis, refers to a degenerative joint disease characterized by calcified out-growths from cartilage. A joint affected by rheumatoid arthritis becomes...
Olive leaf extract contains natural antimicrobials and antioxidants. A 1999 study by the University of Rome assessed the antimicrobial activity of oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, two of the most viable ingredients in olive leaf extract. Both of...
Daily exercise benefits your bones, muscles, joints and other bodily systems. Most doctors recommend exercise for people experiencing knee pain. However, if your knee pain stems from an injury, daily exercises can increase your discomfort. If you...
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, which means that the spherical head of the femur, or thighbone, connects to the hipbone's spherical cavity. Ball-and-socket joints support multi-directional movement, but they work on a "use it or lose it"...
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that most frequently involves the joints of the hands and feet. It originates when the membrane that lines the cavity around the joint (synovial membrane) becomes inflamed and thickened, leading to...
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that in many cases affects the joints of the hands and feet, says the Mayo Clinic. The disease stems from inflammation and thickening of the synovial membrane that lines the cavity around the...
