Joint Pain in Barnhart, MO. If your ability to enjoy a pain-free life is jeopardized by joint pain, the professional physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT is here to get you back to the activities in Barnhart, MO you love the most. Whether you are experiencing chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or sustained an injury, we’ll work in concert with you as a team to develop a proven treatment plan that is personalized specifically for you to help find meaningful pain relief. Our practice is client-centered, and achieving positive, pain-free outcomes. If you want to get back to owning your local tennis league, or just want to tie your shoes without pain, get in touch with us us online or find the nearest location for you.

Joint pain is debilitating for many Barnhart, MO residents. In the United States, an estimated one in four adults suffer from joint pain. While it can be severely debilitating, there is a way to manage it and make it go away. You should always consult with a physician to see if physical therapy is appropriate for you. While no remedy will work for everyone all the time, physical therapy has shown widespread success for people with joint pain. Contact Axes for for a complimentary injury screening and to be referred to a physician.

Understanding Joint Pain | Barnhart, MO Physical Therapy

The many joints in human anatomy have many shapes, sizes, and purposes, but they all attach bones together. There are three types of joints:

1. Synarthrosis joints allow for no movement, meaning they connect bones but cannot move, such as the bones in your head.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints provide limited movement, such as the distal joint between the two shin bones.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also known as synovial joints, make most of the movements our bodies make possible. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six classifications of synovial joints:
   1. Pivot, which allows rotation around a single point
   2. Plane or gliding, which allows movement up and down, left and right, and diagonally
   3. Hinge, which permits bending and straightening in a single direction
   4. Condyloid, which allows flexion, extension, and circular motions
   5. Saddle, which permits the same movements as condyloid joints
   6. Ball-and-socket joints allow the greatest freedom of movement and including rotational mobility

A human adult has 206 bones which are bridged by almost 400 joints. The majority of them are synovial joints, which are made up of:

• Cartilage — This is a connective tissue that covers the surface of the joint. It allows for smooth movement and shock absorption.
• Synovial membrane — This membrane lines the joint cavity synovial joints and tendon sheaths. It produces synovial fluid, a thick, lubricating egg white-like substance that lowers friction between the joint and bone.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of tough connective tissue that connect two bones together, do not allow them to move unnaturally, and help you move properly. For example, the shoulder ligaments connect your humerus to your shoulder blade and prevent the shoulder from becoming unstable.
• Tendons — These are also durable and elastic tissue that attaches your bones to the muscles that control their movement.
• Bursae — These are fluid-filled sacs lining different parts of the joint that act as a shock absorber and reduce friction as your tendons, ligaments, and muscles glide over your bones.
• Joint Cavity — This is the space between bones that holds the cartilage and synovial membrane.

We experience pain because our brain is trying to tell us that we are injured.. When you suffer joint pain, that means parts of the joint are injured, inflamed, or otherwise damaged to the extent that it affects the function of your joint Your brain wants you to be cautious and take steps to address the problem. Proven physical therapy in Barnhart, MO is often get your brain to quite down and stop sending you pain signals.

Why We Feel Joint Pain | Barnhart, MO Physical Therapy

There are numerous conditions that can cause crippling joint pain. Those conditions can range in severity; some cannot be cured but pain can be slowed down. In other cases we can be pain-free with full mobility in less than a month. All of them, however, require a well founded treatment plan and the guidance of a qualified physical and occupational therapist in Barnhart, MO like those at Axes. The most common causes of joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella term that includes several different diagnoses. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and degenerative joint disease characterized by the wearing down of the cartilage at the end of your bones. Old age is the most common risk factor, but overuse and repeated trauma are also associated causes.

Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune diseases that attack the healthy tissues in your body.

While we have yet to find a a cure for arthritis, pain and stiffness can be managed with evidence-backed physical therapy by reducing the stress placed on the joint with improved strength and flexibility. Physical therapy is an aspect of arthritis treatment along with medications, supplements, and topical treatments. The Barnhart, MO physical therapists at Axes will work directly with you and your physician to create a holistic treatment plan aimed at bringing piece and mobility back to your everyday life.

Bursitis

Bursitis causes joint pain when the fluid-filled sacs lining your joints become inflamed and cannot reduce the friction between parts of the joint. It can be caused by overuse, a blow to the joint, repeated motions, or, uncommonly, infection. It most commonly occurs in the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee. Safe flexibility and strength exercises, coupled with rest along with patient education can help prevent future flare-ups and rebuild strength and flexibility in the joint. Taking precautions and following a treatment plan can cure bursitis in a few weeks.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis causes joint pain when the tendons connecting the bones and muscles become swollen or injured. It is caused by tasks that require repetitive motions such as pitching in baseball. is also a common sports injury. Most cases of tendinitis involve the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will gently strengthen and lengthen the tendon to make further injuries less likely. If a tendon is ruptured, you may need surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains happen when a ligament is extended or torn due to twisting, landing awkwardly, or direct trauma to the area. Tears are when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While the recovery time for a sprain is usually a few weeks, recovering from a tear is much more difficult. Tears like rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can be extremely painful and profoundly impact your ability to perform basic activities.

If joint pain is keeping you from the activities you love, consider one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain experts in Barnhart, MO. If what’s causing your joint pain requires surgery, come to us for your pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

What Physical Therapy in Barnhart, MO Can Do for Your Joint Pain

We treat each Barnhart, MO clients as an individual, so we’ll cater your treatment based on the underlying conditions and level of your joint pain, your age, how your pain affects your ability to work, and the activities you want to enjoy in the future. We’ll work with you to show you safe and effective exercises that you can perform at home after your treatment plan is completed, so you can continue to manage any future pain and prevent future flare-ups.

While it may seem natural to avoid movements that cause joint pain, the truth is that by not moving affected joints the pain and stiffness may only get worse. At Axes, our Barnhart, MO physical and occupational therapists understand what it takes to get positive patient outcomes; we do not take any risks that might make your symptoms worse. We can also teach you how to lessen the burden put on your joints with posture correction and other techniques.

Depending on you, your joint pain, and your needs, we may use the following treatments in Barnhart, MO:

• Dry Needling
• Work Rehabilitation
• Injury Prevention
• Soft Tissue Mobilization
• Kineseo Taping®
• Blood Flow Restriction Training

Take a look at the links below to see what other services we offer in Barnhart, MO:

• Neck Pain Treatment
• Physical Therapy Clinic
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
• Sciatica Treatment
• Sports Medicine
• Hand Pain Physical Therapy
• Foot & Ankle Pain Treatment
• Hip Pain Treatment
• Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
• Stroke Rehabilitation

Joint Pain Management in Barnhart, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and other issues that require physical therapy, is a physical burden, it can also impact us emotionally by not allowing us to live the life we want. At Axes PT, our entire team of professional Barnhart, MO occupational and physical therapists is devoted to seeing you be able to participate in the activities you love. We believe the best way to get our patients back to optimal health and a pain-free life is by working with them as a team and implementing treatment plans tailored specifically to them. Everything we do has been backed by science. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in Barnhart, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.