Joint Pain in Earth City, MO. If your ability to enjoy a pain-free life is jeopardized by joint pain, the qualified physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT is here to get you back to the activities in Earth City, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, recently received a diagnosis, 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 effective that is personalized specifically for you to help find significant pain relief. Our practice based on giving you, the client, an extraordinary experience. If you want to get back to owning your local pickleball league, or just want to stand up and sit down without pain, contact us online or find the nearest location for you.

Joint pain is limiting for many Earth City, MO residents. In the United States, roughly 25% of adults suffer from joint pain. While it can be severely restrictive, it doesn’t have to control your life. It is important to consult with a doctor to see if physical therapy is appropriate for you. While no therapy is guaranteed to make everyone 100% pain free, physical therapy has countless people with joint pain get back to the activities they love. Contact Axes for for a free injury screening and to be referred to a physician.

Understanding Joint Pain | Earth City, MO Physical Therapy

There are many different kinds of joints in human anatomy, but they all work to connect bones together. There are three categories of joints:

1. Synarthrosis joints are immovable, help provide stability by holding bonds together, for example the gomphoses in your cranium.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints allow for limited movement, such as the vertebrae in the spine.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also called synovial joints, make most of the movements our bodies make possible. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six types of diarthrosis joints:
   1. Pivot, which permits rotary movement around a single axis
   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 side to side and circular movements
   5. Saddle, which permits similar movements as condyloid joints
   6. Ball-and-socket joints allow the highest degree of movement and including rotational mobility

One fully grown, the human body has 206 bones which are fastened by almost 400 joints. The majority of them are synovial joints, which are made up of:

• Cartilage — Cartilage is a connective tissue that covers the surface of the joint. Its purpose is to act as a shock absorber.
• Synovial membrane — This membrane lines many parts of the inside of synovial joints and tendon sheaths. It produces synovial fluid, a thick liquid that acts as a lubricant and reduces friction between the cartilage.
• 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 connective tissue that attaches muscles and bones and allow us to move our limbs.
• Bursae — These are fluid-filled sacs between bones and surrounding tissues 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.

We experience pain because our brain is trying to tell us that we are injured.. When you feel 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. Evidence-based physical therapy in Earth City, MO is often needed to address the issue.

Why We Feel Joint Pain | Earth City, MO Physical Therapy

Joint pain can occur because of a variety of conditions. Those conditions differ substantially in severity; some cannot be cured but meaningful relief is possible. In other cases we can be pain-free with full mobility in just a few weeks. All of them, however, require an optimal treatment plan and the care of a licensed physical and occupational therapist in Earth City, MO like those at Axes. Some conditions and events that can lead to joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is a broad term for several conditions that cause joint pain. 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 can also be to blame.

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

While there is no cure for arthritis, improved mobility and reduced pain can be achieved with effective physical therapy by allowing the joint to move with greater ease. In addition to physical therapy, treatment for arthritis often includes medication and, in some cases, surgery. The Earth City, MO physical therapists at Axes will in concert with you and your physician to come up with a holistic treatment plan with the objective of bringing piece and mobility back to your everyday life.

Bursitis

Bursitis leads to joint pain when the bursae become swollen and cannot reduce the friction between parts of the joint. It can be the result of overuse, injury, repeated motions, or, rarely, infection. The majority of bursitis cases involve 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 less than a month.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis causes joint pain when the tendons around the joint become inflamed or damaged. It can happen with activities involving repetitive motions such as landscaping work. It can also be caused by a sudden sports injury. Most cases of tendinitis involve the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will gently strengthen and elongate the tendon to make further injuries less likely. If a tendon tears, you may need surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains happen when a ligament is stretched or torn because of twisting, stepping on uneven ground, or a blow to the joint. Tears happen 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 like rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can be incredibly painful and profoundly impact your ability to perform basic tasks.

If you’re experiencing joint pain, consider one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain professionals in Earth City, MO. If your joint pain is severe enough to require surgery, come to us for your pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

How Physical Therapy in Earth City, MO Can Help Your Joint Pain

No one Earth City, MO resident’s joint pain is exactly like someone else’s, so we’ll cater your treatment based on the root causes and degree of your joint pain, how old you are, how your pain affects your ability to work, and the your desired activity level. As we progress through our treatment, we’ll show you exercises you can do at home safely, so you can continue to find long-term pain relief and go on to enjoy optimal range of motion.

While our natural instinct is 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 Earth City, MO physical and occupational therapists understand what it takes to get positive patient outcomes; we know how to help you increase mobility and strength without causing further pain. We can also teach you 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 Earth City, 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 Earth City, 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 Earth City, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and any kind of pain, is a physical hardship, it can also impact us mentally by keeping us away from the things we enjoy. At Axes PT, every one of our licensed Earth City, MO occupational and physical therapists is dedicated to seeing you be able to take part 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. All of our treatments have been proven to be effective. If you’ve been waiting to move on from your joint pain in Earth City, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.