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Which joints, which arthritis?

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Hip arthritis
Hip arthritis

Taking note of which joints are spared in each form of arthritis is also helpful. 

Which of your joints are painful and inflamed?

Here is a list to help you learn more about the different joints involved in each of the different types of arthritis. Identifying the joints involved will help a doctor to make the correct diagnosis.

Take a look at our graphic showing the joints involved in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.

Distribution of joint involvement in arthritis

DiseaseJoints commonly involvedJoints commonly spared
Gonococcal arthritisknee, wrist, ankle, hand IPaxial
Lyme arthritisknee, shoulder, wrist, elbowaxial
Rheumatoid arthritis
wrist, MCP, PIP, elbow, glenohumeral, cervical spine, hip, knee, ankle, tarsal, MTPDIP, thoracolumbar spine
Osteoarthritis
first CMC, CIP, PIP, cervical spine, thora-columbar spine, hip, knee, first MTP, toe IPMCP, wrist, elbow, glenohumeral, ankle, tarsal
Reiter's syndromeknee, ankle, tarsal, MTP, toe IP, elbow, axial 
Psoriatic arthritisknee, ankle, MTP, toe IP, wrist, MCP, hand IP, axial 
Enteropathic arthritisknee, ankle, elbow, shoulder, MCP, PIP, wrist, axial 
Polyarticular goutfirst MTP, instep, heel, ankle, kneeaxial
CPPD diseaseknee, wrist, shoulder, ankle, MCP, hand IP, hip, elbowaxial
Sarcoid arthritisankle, kneeaxial
HaemochromatosisMCP, wrist, knee, hip, feet, shoulder 

Joints: IP, interphalangeal; MCP, metacarpophalangeal; PIP, proximal interphalangeal; CMC, carpometacarpal; DIP, distal interphalangeal; MTP, metatarsophalangeal.

- (Source: Arthritis Foundation of SA)

Read more:

Causes of knee pain

How exercise eases knee osteoarthritis

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