Joint Pain in Cottleville, MO. If your ability to enjoy a pain-free life is jeopardized by joint pain, the professional physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT will help you get back to the activities in Cottleville, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or were injured by trauma, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to create a proven treatment plan that is unique to you to help significantly assuage your pain. Our practice focuses on you, the client, and achieving positive, pain-free outcomes. If you want to get back to dominating corners on the football field, or just want to pick up your grandchildren without pain, reach out to us us online or find the closest location for you.

Joint pain is a problem for many Cottleville, MO residents. In the United States, roughly 25% of adults experience joint pain. While it can be severely debilitating, it doesn’t have to control your life. You should always consult with a doctor to see if physical therapy is right for you. While no treatment will work for everyone all the time, physical therapy has shown widespread success for patients with joint pain. Contact Axes for for a free injury screening and to be referred to a physician.

Understanding Joint Pain | Cottleville, MO Physical Therapy

The many joints in human anatomy have many shapes, sizes, and purposes, but they all share the function of connecting bones together. There are three classifications of joints:

1. Synarthrosis joints are immovable, but provide firm connections between adjacent bones, such as the gomphoses in your skull.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints are partially moveable, for example the vertebrae in the back.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also known as synovial joints, allow a full scope of of movement. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six classifications of diarthrosis joints:
   1. Pivot, which allows rotation around a single point
   2. Plane or gliding, which allows bones to glide over each other
   3. Hinge, which permits bending and straightening in a single direction
   4. Condyloid, which allows flexion, extension, and circular motions
   5. Saddle, which permits similar movements as condyloid joints
   6. Ball-and-socket joints allow the greatest degree of movement and including rotational mobility

A human adult has 206 bones which are affixed 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 cushions the bone against each other.
• Synovial membrane — This membrane lines many parts of the inside of synovial joints and tendon sheaths. It produces synovial fluid, a thick, lubricating egg white-like substance that reduces friction when bones glide over each other.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of tough connective tissue that connect two bones together, hold them in place, 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 muscles and bones and allow us to move our limbs.
• Bursae — These are fluid-filled sacs lining different parts of the joint that act as a cushion and reduce friction as the different parts of a joint interact with each other.
• Joint Cavity — This is in the middle of the joint and holds the synovial fluid.

Our brain sends us pain signals when we are injured to tell us that something is wrong. When you experience joint pain, that means some part of the innerworkings of your joint are damaged and cannot function as intended Your brain wants you to do something about it. Evidence-based physical therapy in Cottleville, MO is often the best way to treat joint pain.

Why We Feel Joint Pain | Cottleville, MO Physical Therapy

Joint pain can occur because of a variety of conditions. Those conditions differ considerably in severity; some are not totally curable but symptoms can be alleviated. In other cases joints can be made healthy in less than a month. All of them, however, require a well founded treatment plan and the stewardship of a qualified physical and occupational therapist in Cottleville, MO like those at Axes. Some conditions and events that can lead to joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is a general term that includes several different diagnoses. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down. Old age is the most common risk factor, but overuse and repeated trauma can also be to blame.

Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune diseases wherein your immune system erroneously attacks healthy tissue, usually in the joints.

While there is no cure for arthritis, improved mobility and reduced pain can be achieved with effective physical therapy by increasing flexibility and strengthening the muscles around the joint. In addition to physical therapy, treatment for arthritis often includes medication and, in some cases, surgery. The Cottleville, MO physical therapists at Axes will in concert with you and your doctor to put together a comprehensive treatment plan with the objective of getting you back to the things you enjoy.

Bursitis

Bursitis causes joint pain when the fluid-filled sacs lining your joints become swollen and cannot cushion the joint as well. It can be caused by overuse, trauma, repeated movements, or, in some rare cases, infection. It most commonly occurs in the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee. Effective flexibility and strength exercises, coupled with rest along with patient education can go a long way in preventing future flare-ups and maintain strength and flexibility in the surrounding muscles. With the right treatment, bursitis can go away within a month.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis can be a joint pain culprit when the tendons connecting the bones and muscles become inflamed or damaged. It can happen with activities that require repetitive motions such as painting. is also a common sports injury. Most cases of tendinitis involve the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will help safely strengthen and elongate the tendon to reduce the risk of further injuries. If a tendon tears, a physician may advise surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains cause joint pain when a ligament is stretched or torn due to falling, stepping on uneven ground, or direct trauma to the joint. Tears occur when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While after most sprains you can be back to normal in a few weeks, the recovery time is much longer with tears. Tears like rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can be incredibly painful and profoundly impact your ability to perform basic activities.

If joint pain is affecting your daily life, take advantage of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain specialists in Cottleville, MO. If a physician recommends surgery, we’ll work with you to create a personalized pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

How Physical Therapy in Cottleville, MO Can Help Your Joint Pain

All of our Cottleville, MO clients are unique, so we’ll cater your treatment based on the root causes and degree of your joint pain, your age, what you do for work, and the your desired activity level. As we progress through your physical therapy, we’ll show you exercises you can perform at home safely, so you can continue to manage any future pain and prevent further injuries.

While it may seem natural to avoid movements that cause joint pain, immobility will only aggravate your symptoms in the end. At Axes, our Cottleville, 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 help you learn how to lessen the burden put on your joints with posture correction and other patient education.

Depending on the specifics of your joint pain, we may use the following treatments in Cottleville, 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 Cottleville, 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 Relief in Cottleville, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and any kind of pain, is a physical hardship, it can also impact us emotionally by not allowing us to live the life we want. At Axes PT, our entire team of licensed Cottleville, MO occupational and physical therapists is devoted to getting you back to 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. All of our treatments have been backed by science. If you’ve been waiting to move on from your joint pain in Cottleville, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.