how does Arthritis affect your Muscle system?
It causes the joint to be misshaped or reduced in size. When this happens, it pulls on the
tendons that surround the joint and can pull on the muscles as a consequence as
well. When the joint goes through these changes and tendons get pulled, the
tendons then swell up, that's why often times there swelling around a joint when
arthritis has done damage to the cartilage. The cartilage is a cushion of soft,
slippery soft tissue separating the opposing bones.
The inflammation arthritis causes around the joints will also effect the tendons
and ligaments, along with the other connective tissues of the muscles. This
combined with the fact then when you are experiencing the aches and pains of
arthritis your body will instinctively tend to use your muscles more to try and
take some of the strain off the joints that are hurting.