If a client displays stiffness with inactivity and pain relieved by rest, what type of arthritis might she have?

The symptoms described—stiffness with inactivity and pain relieved by rest—are characteristic of osteoarthritis (OA). OA typically presents with joint stiffness, especially after periods of inactivity, as well as pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest. This pattern is distinctly different from other types of arthritis.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for example, stiffness usually occurs in the morning and lasts for a prolonged period after waking, often more than 30 minutes, and the pain does not necessarily improve with rest. Gout, on the other hand, involves acute attacks of severe pain and swelling, typically affecting one joint, and the discomfort often does not have the same relationship with activity. Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) can present with stiffness, but it typically affects the shoulder and hip girdle areas and is often accompanied by systemic symptoms like fatigue and fever.

Overall, the specific combination of symptoms presented aligns well with osteoarthritis, making it the most fitting diagnosis in this scenario.