Arthritis: Stages of Arthritis Grades 1-4

Arthritis is the inflammation or swelling of one or more joints.

Grade 0 – Grade 0 is a healthy joint with no signs of damage or impairment.

Grade 1 – Grade 1 includes minor wear and tear on the joint. This is minor and unlikely to cause any pain or discomfort.

Grade 2 – Grade 2 is mild arthritis. The cartilage between the bones will appear normal, but it is likely that joint pain will start to occur. The joint might feel stiff if it hasn’t been moved in a while, for example, when you wake up in the morning.

Grade 3 – Grade 3 is moderate. At this stage, apparent cartilage erosion between bones will start
to occur, and the fraying of the cartilage will narrow the gap between bones. At this stage, you
will likely experience joint inflammation and pain when moving the joining, as well as joint
stiffness after not moving for an extended period of time.

Grade 4 – Grade 4 is the most severe stage of arthritis. There is usually no cartilage left in the
joint, and the bones rub against each other during movement. At this stage, the joint
becomes painful, swollen, and stiff when moving.