ABSTRACT
The term arthritis comprises a number of diseases characterized by evolving damage (degeneration) of the joints. It is characterized by a chronic infl ammation of the joint synovium and severe pain. The pathophysiological cause of the disease remains not completely clear, but infl ammation is associated to tissues close to the joints attacked by the immune system. The major key factors involved in the origin and development of the degenerative joint disease are trauma, infection, and age. Arthritis in the form of osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder, and the most frequent cause of pain, loss of function and disability in adults. In the United States of America, it is the second cause of work disability in men over 50 years old (Arden and Nevitt 2006).
