Joint Health Checklist
Joint health can only be assessed by examination and, sometimes, scans or blood tests. This page does not estimate a "joint age". It counts symptoms and factors the NHS links with osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis.
Before you start
Method : Joint Health Checklist — a custom points score written by this site. Each answer adds or subtracts the points shown in the Methodology table below.
Validation : Unvalidated. The points have never been tested against any laboratory measurement or health outcome, and the result is not an age.
Review : not reviewed by a qualified clinician. Educational only — not a diagnosis or a medical test.
Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, or swollen, warm joints, can be signs of inflammatory arthritis — see a GP (NHS). A hot, swollen joint with fever needs urgent care.
Your answers stay in this browser tab; nothing is sent or stored.
Answer the questions, then press Calculate score.
How to Use This Calculator
- Answer each question.
- Press Calculate score.
- Read the breakdown and suggestions.
Methodology & assumptions
Your score is the sum of the points below. The weights are our own judgement. The old version added made-up years for self-rated range of motion, joint cracking, past injuries, surgeries and conditions and gave a "joint age". Those were removed with the age output.
| Factor | Answer | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Joint pain | None | 0 |
| Occasionally | +1 | |
| Most days | +2 | |
| Joint stiffness on waking | No | 0 |
| Under 30 minutes | +1 | |
| 30 minutes or more | +2 | |
| Swollen, warm or red joints | No | 0 |
| Yes | +2 | |
| Moderate activity per week | 150+ minutes | 0 |
| Under 150 minutes | +1 | |
| Little or none | +2 | |
| Body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) | Under 25 | 0 |
| 25–29.9 | +1 | |
| 30 or more | +2 |
Worked examples
Pain most days, stiff 30+ minutes, swollen joints, little activity, BMI 31: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = +10 points.
No pain, no stiffness or swelling, 150+ minutes a week, BMI 23: 0 points.
Understanding your result
This counts symptoms and factors you reported. It is not a diagnosis and not an age. Health-agency guidance linked below is general and based on populations, not on this score.
Sources & further reading
The points table is our own convention and is not taken from these sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
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