According to the Arthritis Foundation, 27 million Americans live with osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis which involves a mechanical “wear and tear” of the cartilage that lines the inside of our joints and which, over time, can result in damage to the connective tissue and bone around the joint. The more you know about the condition, the greater your chance for success in finding the help that you need.

“The pain of arthritis is usually described as a deep ache or throbbing joint pain that is often worse upon getting up in the morning. In addition, sufferers may also experience muscle weakness around the arthritic joint and functional limitations, such as difficulty getting up and walking,” says Dr. David Wang, a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at The Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine in McLean, Virginia (www.kaplanclinic.com).