Other forms of arthritis

There are also lesser known types of arthritis, including:

• Ankylosing spondylitis: an inflammatory condition that mainly affects the spine, causing stiffness and fusion of the joints
• Cervical spondylosis: degeneration of the joints in the neck
• Psoriatic arthritis: this affects people with the skin condition psoriasis
• Enteropathic arthritis: a condition most commonly affecting the limbs and spine and associated with inflammatory bowel disease
• Polymyalgia rheumatica: an immune condition that most commonly affects the shoulders and upper legs of people over the age of 50.

Remember

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is associated with enteropathic arthritis, is the term used to describe ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. It is very different to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Refer back to the gastrointestinal Body Talk module to refresh your knowledge.