If you’ve ever gotten out of bed in the morning and felt like your knees needed a few minutes to get going or noticed your fingers becoming stiff after working in the yard, you know how uncomfortable aching joints can be.

For millions of Americans, however, those aches and pains are more than an occasional inconvenience. They’re part of living with arthritis, one of the nation’s most common health conditions.

Arthritis isn’t actually a single disease. It’s a general term covering more than 100 conditions that affect the joints — the places where two bones meet.

Although arthritis is particularly common among adults older than 50, it can affect people of almost any age, including children and teenagers. The condition can develop in virtually any joint, but it most frequently affects the hands, wrists, knees, hips, feet, ankles, shoulders, and lower back.

And while arthritis is often associated with growing older, aging isn’t the only reason people develop it….READ MORE…