A rthritis is a generic condition indicating inflammation of a joint .
Inflammation is the general response of the body to injury of any type.
The signs of inflammation are pain, swelling, warmth, and sometimes redness. There are many causes of arthritis. These include a sudden, or acute, injury such as might occur when playing sports. Acute trauma is actually the most common cause of arthritis. In most cases, however, the injury does not cause permanent damage, the inflammation subsides over a few weeks, and the joint functions normally for the rest of that person's life.