Preface

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common long-term chronic disease causing joint inflammations, pain, and stiffness. RA affects women three times more than men. Hormones in both genders may play a role in either preventing or triggering the disease. There are four stages of osteoarthritis (OA): minor, mild, moderate, and severe. Most frequently, OA symptoms affect the fingers, feet, knees, hips, and spine and less commonly the elbows, wrists, shoulders, and ankles. Having RA can lead to several other conditions that may cause additional symptoms and can deteriorate living conditions. Currently, there is no rapid accurate cure. However, there are many operational treatments that prevent OA progression and help control the symptoms of joint pain and stiffness. Recent research confirmed that early intervention for RA is key because joint damage cannot be reversed. Clinically, a treat-to-target strategy management to control and prevent the disease and progression is recommended. Rheumatologists often complement this with low physical activity. Exercise, in general, seems to improve overall function in RA without any proven detrimental effects to disease activity, although more research is still required on the optimal dose and types of exercises. Note also, recently interest in traditional herbal medicines has increased considerably. In fact, herbal medicines are believed to be comparatively less toxic than synthetics. Currently, most of the tribal people still depend mostly on local medicinal plants for OA treatment.

> **Hechmi Toumi** PRIMMO, Translational Medical Research Platform, Centre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans, Orleans, France

Section 1
