Arthritis is not a single disease but a broad term for more than a hundred diseases related to joints. It can cause swelling in or around a joint, resulting in pain, stiffness, and sometimes difficulty moving.

World Arthritis Day is celebrated to spread awareness about the existence and impact of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. On this day campaigns are launched around arthritis and awareness is created on the timely diagnosis and management strategies.

Established by Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI), WAD was first observed in the year 1996. To spread global messages on musculoskeletal disease, the foundation took extra measures to make people aware of this condition.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the World Arthritis Day and the theme or campaign is "Don’t Delay, Connect Today: Time2Work".

The most common symptoms are swelling, stiffness, and joint pain. The skin around the joint of people suffering from arthritis may also turn red. People with arthritis have experienced that the symptoms are worse in the morning. and can develop suddenly.