ABSTRACT
Arthritis literally means “joint in–ammation,” which imposes debilitating and detrimental effects on human health. Arthritis is a leading cause of disability in the United States, which af–icts as many as one in —ve Americans or approximately 40 million Americans or 20% of the U.S. population. This number is going to rise to 60 million by the year 2020, and approximately two-thirds of all Americans living with arthritis are women. Approximately $15 billion is the direct annual costs of medical care, whereas lost wages account for some $50 billion in indirect costs related to arthritis. The population with arthritis divides almost evenly between those 65 years and older and the rest of population. More than half of those with arthritis are younger than 65 years, including almost 200,000 children. There are individuals who have arthritis who lead active, productive lives, whereas others need assistance to accomplish basic activities associated with daily living.
