Different diseases characteristically affect different joints. 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
Disease Joints commonly
involved Joints commonly
spared
Gonococcal arthritis knee, wrist, ankle, hand
IP axial
Lyme arthritis knee, shoulder, wrist,
elbow axial
Rheumatoid arthritis wrist, MCP, PIP, elbow,
glenohumeral, cervical spine, hip, knee, ankle, tarsal, MTP DIP, thoracolumbar spine
Osteoarthritis first CMC, CIP, PIP,
cervical spine, thora-columbar spine, hip, knee, first MTP, toe IP MCP, wrist, elbow,
glenohumeral, ankle, tarsal
Reiter's syndrome knee, ankle, tarsal, MTP,
toe IP, elbow, axial
Psoriatic arthritis knee, ankle, MTP, toe IP,
wrist, MCP, hand IP, axial
Enteropathic arthritis knee, ankle, elbow,
shoulder, MCP, PIP, wrist, axial
Polyarticular gout first MTP, instep, heel,
ankle, knee axial
CPPD disease knee, wrist, shoulder,
ankle, MCP, hand IP, hip, elbow axial
Sarcoid arthritis ankle, knee axial
Hemochromatosis MCP, wrist, knee, hip,
feet, shoulder
Joints: IP, interphalangeal; MCP, metacarpophalangeal; PIP, proximal interphalangeal; CMC, carpometacarpal; DIP, distal interphalangeal; MTP, metatarsophalangeal.
Read more: Assess your arthritis risk Ten easy ways to protect your joints
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