For Public & Patients

Rheumatology is the medical specialty concerned with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. These conditions can affect joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues.

Some rheumatic diseases are systemic, meaning they may also involve the immune system and organs such as the skin, eyes, kidneys, heart, lungs, nervous system, or digestive system—with or without visible joint inflammation.

A rheumatologist is a physician with specialist training in diagnosing and treating rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Adult rheumatologists train through internal medicine; pediatric rheumatologists first train in pediatrics and then specialize further.

There are more than 200 rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, connective-tissue diseases, vasculitis, Behçet disease, psoriatic arthritis, and osteoporosis.

The specialty also evaluates many causes of joint and muscle pain, including persistent pain in the back, neck, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and feet.

No. Joint pain can come from injury, overuse, tendons, muscles, infections, nerve problems, or many other causes. Arthritis specifically means inflammation or structural disease involving a joint.

A clinician can use your history, examination, and—when needed—tests or imaging to identify the likely cause.

The rheumatologist will usually ask when your symptoms began, how they change through the day, what makes them better or worse, and whether other body systems are affected. They will examine relevant joints and other areas.

Bring your medication list, allergies, previous laboratory and imaging reports, relevant medical history, and a short timeline of your symptoms. Not every patient needs every test.

Yes. Blood tests are only one part of diagnosis, and some rheumatic conditions do not have a single confirmatory test. Results must be interpreted alongside symptoms, examination findings, and sometimes imaging.

A positive test also does not always mean that a person has a disease, so avoid interpreting results without clinical context.

Yes. Children can develop inflammatory arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Persistent joint swelling, stiffness, unexplained limping, recurring fever, rash, or reduced activity should be discussed with a pediatric clinician, who may refer to a pediatric rheumatologist.