Massage Therapy Journal Summer 2026

Summer 2026 • 35

Table 3: Reactive Arthritis vs. RA Reactive Arthritis 11

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Caused by a bacterial infection Typically resolves in 12 months or so

Caused by an autoimmune response

Chronic, progressive Joint inflammation

Prostate, cervix inflammation No gender gap in occurrence

Women predominate in occurrence

Etiology, Symptoms, Complications and Comorbidities of RA Risk factors. RA is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies— antibodies that are made against substances or tissues formed by a person’s own body. The specific autoantibodies present in RA are integral elements of its pathophysiology, or functional changes. 12 Established risk factors include: 12 • Gender: Women are far more likely than men to develop RA. • Age: RA can occur at any age, but it most commonly begins in middle age. • Family history: Having a family member with RA increases one’s risk for developing the condition. • Smoking: Cigarette smoking increases one’s risk of developing RA, particularly if a genetic predisposition exists. Smoking also appears to be associated with greater disease severity. • Excess weight: People who are overweight appear to be at a somewhat higher risk of developing RA. • History of live births: Women who have never given birth may be at greater risk for developing RA. • Early life exposures: Some early life exposures may increase risk of developing RA in adulthood. For example, one study found that children whose mothers smoked had double the risk of developing RA as adults, and that children of lower income parents are at increased risk of developing RA as adults. 12 • Preexisting autoimmune condition: Some research has shown that having one

autoimmune conditions (known as multiple autoimmune syndrome). 13 Signs and Symptoms The early signs and symptoms of RA may mimic those of many other diseases, making early diagnosis difficult. There is no single blood test or physical finding to confirm the diagnosis, although people with RA often have abnormal test results that may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. 14 RA is characterized by periods of exacerbation or recurrence of acute symptoms, and periods of subacute symptoms, sometimes called remissions. The structural damage caused by inflammation occurs during acute phases, over time deforming and destabilizing joints. Typical signs and symptoms include: 12 • Bilateral inflammation, pain and stiffness, beginning in the small joints in the hands and feet, and then spreading to the wrists and ankles; knees and elbows; hips and shoulders; these symptoms tend to be worse in the morning, and following periods of inactivity or overexertion. • Fatigue, recurring fever, and loss of appetite • Raynaud phenomenon: cold, numb, bluish or whitish fingers and/or toes • Effects on additional structures, systems: For 40 percent of those diagnosed with RA, other structures are also involved, such as skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood vessels; kidneys, salivary glands, nerve tissue and bone marrow. 14 What You Need to Know About the Stages of RA RA tends to progress in fairly predictable stages. Identifying an RA patient’s stage of disease

autoimmune disease can be considered a risk for developing a second, or even an accumulation of three or more

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