Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that primarily attacks the joints, leading to symptoms such as swelling, stiffness, and joint deformities. This condition tends to initially affect smaller joints, specifically the joints connecting fingers to hands and toes to feet. As RA progresses, it often spreads to larger joints including the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips, and shoulders, typically affecting both sides of the body symmetrically.
The onset of RA most commonly occurs between ages 30 to 50 and is more prevalent in women than in men. The joints most frequently impacted by RA are in the hands, wrists, feet, ankles, knees, shoulders, and elbows. This inflammation can result in tenderness, warmth, and enlargement of the affected joints due to synovitis (swelling of the soft tissue lining the joint) and sometimes synovial fluid within the joint. As a result, joints can quickly become deformed.
In addition to joint issues, RA may lead to a loss of appetite, weight loss, and a low-grade fever. To manage these symptoms and improve quality of life, assistive devices like reachers, grabbers, jar openers, and wrist braces can be helpful. These tools are designed to ease the strain on joints and are particularly beneficial in reducing the impact on the hands and wrists.
For more detailed information on the joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis and how to care for them, visit Healthline, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine, CDC, Verywell Health, and MSD Manual for comprehensive insights and recommendations.
