Final answer:
True, arthritis is a disease that results in pain and stiffness in skeletal joints, with osteoarthritis being the most common type, characterized by joint wear and manageable but incurable symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, arthritis refers to a disease that causes pain or stiffness in skeletal joints. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which often results from aging and "wear and tear" on the joints. Factors like joint injury, demanding physical labor, certain sports, and being overweight can exacerbate the condition. Osteoarthritis develops as the articular cartilage, which cushions the surfaces of bones in synovial joints, wears down, increasing stress on the bones. This leads to a cycle of cartilage erosion, bone thickening, and increased synovial fluid, causing joint stiffness, swelling, and pain. Movements can become painful and inflamed, particularly as the condition progresses, and while there is no cure for osteoarthritis, treatments such as lifestyle changes and medications are available to manage pain and improve joint function.