Joint Pain in Des Peres, MO. If your ability to enjoy a pain-free life is jeopardized by joint pain, the qualified physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT will help you get back to the activities in Des Peres, MO you love the most. Whether you are experiencing chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or had an awkward fall, we’ll work in tandem with you as a team to come up with a treatment plan that has been demonstrated to be successful that is unique to you to help considerably assuage your pain. Our practice is client-centered, 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, contact us online or find the closest location for you.
Joint pain is debilitating for many Des Peres, MO residents. In the U.S., roughly a quarter of adults live with joint pain. While it can be severely debilitating, there is a way to manage it and make it go away. You should always see a doctor before deciding on physical therapy. While no remedy will work for everyone all the time, physical therapy has countless people with joint pain improve their daily lives. Contact Axes for safe, effective, and personalized treatment in Des Peres, MO.
Understanding Joint Pain | Des Peres, MO Physical Therapy
There are many different kinds of joints in human anatomy, but they all share the function of connecting bones together. There are three classes of joints:
- Synarthrosis joints are immovable, help provide stability by holding bonds together, such as the joints in your skull.
- Amphiarthrosis joints are partially moveable, for example the vertebrae in the back.
- Diarthrosis joints, also known as synovial joints, allow a wide range of movement. Examples are your shoulder knee. There are six classes of diarthrosis joints:
- Pivot, which allows rotary movement around a single axis
- Plane or gliding, which allows bones to glide over each other
- Hinge, which permits bending and straightening in a single direction
- Condyloid, which allows flexion, extension, and circular motions
- Saddle, which permits the same movements as condyloid joints
- Ball-and-socket joints allow the highest degree of movement and including rotational mobility
A human adult has 206 bones which are linked by 360 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 many parts of the inside of 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 and elastic tissue that connect two bones together and provide stability. For example, the ACL connects your thigh bone with your shin bone and prevents the tibia from moving too far forward.
- Tendons — These are also durable connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone.
- Bursae — These are fluid-filled sacs between bones and surrounding tissues that act as a shock absorber and reduce friction between the moving parts of a joint.
- Joint Cavity — This is the space between bones that holds the cartilage and synovial membrane.
We feel pain because our brain is trying to tell us that something is wrong.. When you suffer joint pain, that means some part of the innerworkings of your joint are damaged and cannot function as they should Your brain wants you to be cautious and take steps to address the problem. Proven physical therapy in Des Peres, MO is often needed to address the issue.
What Leads to Joint Pain | Des Peres, MO Physical Therapy
There are countless factors that can lead to debilitating joint pain. Those conditions can range in severity; some cannot be cured but pain can be controlled. Other times we can be pain-free with full mobility in just a few weeks. All of them, however, require an optimal treatment plan and the stewardship of a experienced physical and occupational therapist in Des Peres, 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 occurs when the cartilage that acts as a shock absorber at the ends of your bones wears down. It generally occurs with old age, repeated trauma, or overuse.
Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune diseases wherein your immune system incorrectly attacks healthy tissue, usually in the joints.
While we have yet to find a a cure for arthritis, pain and stiffness can be managed with effective 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 Des Peres, MO physical therapists at Axes will form a team with you and your doctor to implement a comprehensive treatment plan with the objective of bringing piece and mobility back to your everyday life.
Bursitis
Bursitis causes joint pain when the fluid-filled sacs lining your joints become swollen and cannot reduce the friction between parts of the joint. It can be caused by overuse, trauma, repeated movements, or, in some rare cases, infection. The majority of bursitis cases involve 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 trauma and rebuild strength and flexibility in the joint. With the right treatment, bursitis can go away within a month.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis can be a joint pain culprit when the tendons around the joint become inflamed or irritated. It can happen with actions involving repetitive motions such as in manual labor. It can also occur a sudden sports injury. It’s most common in the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will help safely strengthen and lengthen the tendon to make further injuries less likely. If a tendon is ruptured, you may need surgery.
Sprains and Tears
Sprains cause joint pain when a ligament is stretched or torn because of falling, landing awkwardly, or direct force to the joint. Tears occur when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While you may be able to recover from a sprain in a few weeks, tears typically require many months to recover from. Tears such as rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can be incredibly painful and profoundly impact your ability to perform daily tasks.
If you have persistent join pain, take advantage of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain professionals in Des Peres, 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 Des Peres, MO Can Do for Your Joint Pain
All of our Des Peres, MO patients are unique, so we’ll cater your treatment based on the cause and level of your joint pain, your age, what you do for work, and the activities you want to enjoy in the future. As we progress through your physical therapy, we’ll show you exercises you can perform at home safely, so you can continue to find long-term pain relief and go on to enjoy the best possible range of motion.
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 Des Peres, MO physical and occupational therapists understand what it takes to get positive patient outcomes; we will help you enhance mobility and strength without causing further pain. We can also teach you how to better protect your joints with posture correction and other techniques.
Depending on the specifics of your joint pain, we may use the following treatments in Des Peres, MO:
- Dry Needling
- Work Rehabilitation
- Injury Prevention
- Soft Tissue Mobilization
- Kineseo Taping®
- Blood Flow Restriction Training
Check out the links below to see what other services we offer in Des Peres, 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 Des Peres, MO | Axes Physical Therapy
While joint pain, and other issues that require physical therapy, can take a physical toll, it can also affect us emotionally by not letting us to what makes us happy in life. At Axes PT, our entire team of professional Des Peres, MO occupational and physical therapists is committed 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 proven to be effective. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in Des Peres, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.
