Which statement best describes the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in terms of mobility impact?

Which statement best describes the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in terms of mobility impact?

• A. OA is inflammatory and causes systemic symptoms; RA is degenerative and localized.
• B. RA is degenerative and OA is inflammatory.
• C. RA is inflammatory and often affects multiple joints with systemic symptoms; OA is degenerative, typically affecting weight-bearing joints with localized pain and stiffness.
• D. RA and OA are both purely degenerative with localized symptoms.

Answer: (C)

Mobility is shaped by the nature of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory process that often involves many joints at once and can bring systemic features like fatigue. The joint inflammation (synovitis) causes swelling, pain, and reduced movement, especially as swelling and stiffness develop, which can limit function in multiple joints. Over time, chronic inflammation can erode cartilage and bone, leading to deformities that further restrict mobility. Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is a degenerative, wear‑and‑tear condition that usually stays localized to a few joints—most often weight‑bearing ones like the knees and hips, and sometimes the hands. The pain is mechanical, worsened by use and activities, with stiffness that is typically localized and shorter in duration. Because it’s degenerative rather than inflammatory, systemic symptoms are not typical. So the statement that RA is inflammatory and often affects multiple joints with systemic symptoms, while OA is degenerative and typically affects weight‑bearing joints with localized pain and stiffness, best describes how each condition impacts mobility.

Mobility is shaped by the nature of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory process that often involves many joints at once and can bring systemic features like fatigue. The joint inflammation (synovitis) causes swelling, pain, and reduced movement, especially as swelling and stiffness develop, which can limit function in multiple joints. Over time, chronic inflammation can erode cartilage and bone, leading to deformities that further restrict mobility.

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is a degenerative, wear‑and‑tear condition that usually stays localized to a few joints—most often weight‑bearing ones like the knees and hips, and sometimes the hands. The pain is mechanical, worsened by use and activities, with stiffness that is typically localized and shorter in duration. Because it’s degenerative rather than inflammatory, systemic symptoms are not typical.

So the statement that RA is inflammatory and often affects multiple joints with systemic symptoms, while OA is degenerative and typically affects weight‑bearing joints with localized pain and stiffness, best describes how each condition impacts mobility.