Joint Pain in Florissant, MO. If immobilizing joint pain is preventing you from living the life you want to, the knowledgeable physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT will help you get back to the activities in Florissant, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, recently received a diagnosis, or had an awkward fall, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to develop a treatment plan that has been demonstrated to be effective that is unique to 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 dominating corners on the football field, or just want to pick up your grandchildren without pain, contact us online or find the most convenient location for you.
Joint pain is all too common for Florissant, MO residents. In the United States, approximately 25% of adults experience joint pain. While it can be severely debilitating, there is a way to manage it and make it go away. It is important to consult with a doctor to see if physical therapy is appropriate for you. While no treatment is guaranteed to make everyone completely pain free, physical therapy has countless people with joint pain get back to the activities they love. Contact Axes for safe, effective, and tailored treatment in Florissant, MO.
Understanding Joint Pain | Florissant, MO Physical Therapy
The many joints in human anatomy have many shapes, sizes, and purposes, but they all attach bones together. There are three classifications of joints:
- Synarthrosis joints allow for no movement, help provide stability by holding bonds together, such as the bones in your skull.
- Amphiarthrosis joints allow for limited movement, for example the distal joint between the tibia and fibula.
- Diarthrosis joints, also referred to as synovial joints, make most of the movements our bodies make possible. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six classes of synovial 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 similar movements as condyloid joints
- 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 linked by almost 400 joints. The majority of them are synovial joints, which are made up of:
- Cartilage — This is a connective tissue that is tough and flexible and sits on the ends of the bones. It allows for smooth movement and cushions the bone against each other.
- Synovial membrane — This membrane lines the inner capsules of synovial joints and tendon sheaths. It produces synovial fluid, a thick, lubricating egg white-like substance that lowers friction when you move your joints.
- Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of firm connective tissue that connect bone to bone, do not allow them to move unnaturally, and help you move properly. 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 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 between the moving parts of a joint.
- Joint Cavity — This is the space between bones that holds the cartilage and synovial membrane.
Our brain sends us pain signals when we are injured to notify us that something is wrong. When you experience 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 know it needs attention. Demonstrably effective physical therapy in Florissant, MO is often needed to address the issue.
Why We Feel Joint Pain | Florissant, MO Physical Therapy
There are several factors that can result in immobilizing joint pain. Those conditions can range in severity; some are not entirely curable but symptoms can be slowed down. Other times joints can fully recover in a matter of weeks. All of them, however, require a sound treatment plan and the stewardship of a knowledgeable physical and occupational therapist in Florissant, MO like those at Axes. The most common causes of joint pain include:
Arthritis
Arthritis is a broad 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 breaks down. It generally occurs with old age, repeated trauma, or overuse.
Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune disorders that attack the healthy tissues in your body.
While there is no cure for arthritis, pain and other symptoms 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 Florissant, MO physical therapists at Axes will form a team with you and your doctor to put together a customized treatment plan with the objective of bringing piece and mobility back to your everyday life.
Bursitis
Bursitis leads to 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, injury, repeated movements, or, rarely, 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 help prevent more bursitis down the road and rebuild strength and flexibility in the surrounding muscles. Taking precautions and following a treatment plan can return you to normal in less than 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 actions involving repetitive motions such as pitching in baseball. It can also occur a sudden sports injury. Most cases of tendinitis involve the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will lightly strengthen and lengthen the tendon to make further injuries less likely. If a tendon snaps, you may need surgery.
Sprains and Tears
Sprains cause joint pain when a ligament is extended or torn as a result of falling, stepping on uneven ground, or a blow to the joint. Tears are when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While the recovery time for a sprain is usually a few weeks, tears typically require many months to recover from. Tears like rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can be extremely painful and make daily activities challenging if not impossible.
If you’re experiencing joint pain, take advantage of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain professionals in Florissant, MO. If your joint pain is severe enough to require surgery, we can be part of your pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.
How Physical Therapy in Florissant, MO Can Help Your Joint Pain
No one Florissant, MO resident’s joint pain is exactly like someone else’s, so we’ll cater your treatment based on the cause and level of your joint pain, how old you are, what you do for work, and the your desired activity level. As we progress through your rehabilitation, 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 movement health.
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 Florissant, MO physical and occupational therapists know what they’re doing; we do not take any risks that might make your symptoms worse. We can also help you learn how to reduce strain on joints with posture correction and other techniques.
Depending on the specifics of your joint pain, we may use the following treatments in Florissant, 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 Florissant, MO:
- 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
- Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
Joint Pain Management in Florissant, MO | Axes Physical Therapy
While joint pain, and any kind of pain, is a physical hardship, it can also impact us mentally by not letting us to what makes us happy in life. At Axes PT, our entire team of knowledgeable Florissant, 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 proven to be effective. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in Florissant, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.
