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...

“I can’t exercise anymore. You see, I have arthritis.” I’ve had many patients enter my exam room, look me straight in the face and say that. My mind drifts to some of the videos I’ve seen in the CrossFit Journal that show adaptive athletes and morbidly obese people exercising. On further questioning, I find the patients are usually referring to hip or knee arthritis—the most common forms of arthritis—and I proceed to ask about their...