Joints are the places where bones connect, allowing our bodies to move. In healthy joints, there's a firm rubbery coating called cartilage at the end of the bones to act as a cushion. The body is designed so that there's enough "empty space" around joints to allow the bones to move freely. If the tissues around the joint become inflamed, that space is made smaller. Movement hurts when bones are pushing up against tissue instead of moving freely.
