A popular term for any disorder that causes pain and stiffness in muscles and joints.
An obsolete medical term which no longer has a de?ned meaning. It remains a lay term covering any painful condition of the muscles and/or joints of the arms, legs or spine.
Used broadly, rheumatism is a term meant to describe subjective sensations and not a specific disease, such as chronic joint inflammation, osteo- or rheumatoid arthritis...almost any chronic dull ache associated with the aging process
n. any disorder in which aches and pains affect the muscles and joints. See rheumatoid arthritis; rheumatic fever; osteoarthritis; gout.
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