According to The Arthritis Society of Canada, four million Canadians suffer from some form of arthritis. The term arthritis, means inflammation of a joint. The signs of inflammation are: pain, redness, immobility, swelling, and heat (some or all of these may be present). Numerous conditions can cause aching and pain in the body's joints and connective tissue; however, not all of these necessarily involve inflammation as seen with arthritis.

A common misconception is that there is only one condition known as arthritis. The reality is that there are over 100 different forms of arthritic conditions. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are probably the most common forms; less known are conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, gout, plantar fasciitis, infective arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma. For a detailed list, visit The Arthritis Foundation. of Canada's website.

For the many people affected by arthritis, early detection and diagnosis by a physician, in addition to a comprehensive treatment plan, often decreases the associated complication of this condition.

Osteoarthritis is one form of arthritis that a massage therapist can treat. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that typically affects the major weight-bearing joints, hips, knees and the spine. The symptoms from this arthritis condition typically involve pain, stiffness and limitation of movement in the affected joints.

The benefits of massage include:

1. an improvement in circulation;
2. an improvement in flexibility and mobility;
3. a decrease in pain and inflammation;
4. relief of muscle aches and stiffness;
5. a decrease in the major symptoms associated with arthritis;
6. a sense of overall relaxation and wellness.