Osteoarthritis is a common condition that affects joints, including the feet, shoulder, hips, knees, and hands. A robust, smooth, slippery coat covers the bone surface called cartilage. This cartilage coating helps your bones to move freely against each other. If a part of the cartilage becomes thin and the bone surface becomes rougher, the bones will not move freely. And this is the so-called wear and tear of the joint. The knee, hip and small joints of the hands are more prone to develop osteoarthritis because of more frequent weight-bearing and repetitive movement. What are the four stages of osteoarthritis? There are four stages of osteoarthritis , and the symptoms and signs are as follows. Stage 1: Minor Little to no pain Minor wear-and-tear of the joint Stage 2: Mild Stiffness sensation if you remain sedentary for a while You may require a brace Noticeable bone spur Stage 3: Moderate Joint inflammation and discomfort while doing everyday activities Cartilage in the af...