Multiarticular

Multiarticular refers to a condition or process that affects multiple joints simultaneously. In medicine, this term is often used to describe diseases, injuries, or treatments that involve more than one joint in the body. For example, certain types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, are multiarticular conditions, meaning they can cause inflammation and pain in numerous joints. Similarly, a multiarticular fracture describes a break that extends across the articular surface of a joint, potentially involving multiple bones that meet at that joint.

The term can also be used in a broader context. For instance, in biomechanics, a multiarticular muscle is one that crosses and acts upon two or more joints. The hamstring muscles, which cross both the hip and knee joints, are a classic example of multiarticular muscles. Understanding whether a condition or structure is multiarticular is important for diagnosis, treatment planning, and rehabilitation, as it can influence the extent of the problem and the approach needed to address it. A multiarticular issue generally presents a more complex challenge than a monoarticular one, which is confined to a single joint.