Which statement best describes the pattern of morning stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis?

• A. It lasts less than 15 minutes.
• B. It lasts more than 60 minutes and improves with movement.
• C. It worsens with movement.
• D. It is only in large joints.

Answer: (B)

Morning stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis comes from inflammatory swelling of the joint lining. It tends to be prolonged after a period of rest and then improves with activity as movement helps loosen the joint and reduces the inflammatory buildup. The best description is that stiffness lasts more than an hour and gets better with movement.

Short stiffness (lasting less than 15 minutes) is more typical of noninflammatory or degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis. Stiffness that worsens with movement doesn’t fit the inflammatory pattern. And rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects small joints such as those in the hands and wrists, not exclusively large joints.