The twisting and deformities which follow on rheumatism used to be suspect as a sign that the sufferer was a witch, especially if it came on suddenly. Severe lumbago was a dangerous affliction to have in the 16th and 17th centuries, for a witch was often supposed to be bent like a hoop; but it was also, in more minor forms, as a result of having displeased the fairies in some way, and particularly when it took the form of lameness, as of the lazy dairymaid who refused to get up and put out water for the fairies and was afflicted with a seven-years' lameness. An account of this is to be found in Mrs Bray's The Borders of the Tatnar and the Tavy.

See also Blights and ilnesses attributed to Fairies.