Joint Pain in Gray Summit, 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 Gray Summit, MO you love the most. Whether you have chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or had an awkward fall, we’ll work alongside 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 find significant pain relief. Our practice based on giving you, the client, a remarkable experience. If you want to get back to dominating corners on the football field, or just want to go up and down the stairs without pain, reach out to us us online or find the nearest location for you.

Joint pain is a problem for many Gray Summit, MO residents. In the United States, an estimated 25% of adults experience joint pain. While it can be severely debilitating, meaningful relief is attainable. It is important to consult with a doctor to see if physical therapy is appropriate for you. 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 customized treatment in Gray Summit, MO.

Understanding Joint Pain | Gray Summit, 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:

1. Synarthrosis joints are immovable, meaning they connect bones but cannot move, for example the gomphoses in your cranium.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints are slightly moveable, for example the distal joint between the two shin bones.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also known as synovial joints, make most of the motions our bodies make possible. Examples are your wrist knee. There are six classes of synovial joints:
   1. Pivot, which permits rotation around one point
   2. Plane or gliding, which permits 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 also allow for side to side and circular movements
   6. Ball-and-socket joints allow the greatest degree of movement and including rotational mobility

One fully grown, the human body has 206 bones which are bridged by 360 joints. The majority of them are synovial joints, which are made up of:

• Cartilage — This is a connective tissue that is firm and flexible and sits between the bones. Its purpose is to act as a shock absorber.
• Synovial membrane — This membrane lines the joint cavity synovial joints and tendon sheaths. It produces synovial fluid, a egg white-like substance that acts as a lubricant and reduces friction when bones glide over each other.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of tough and elastic tissue that connect two bones together and provide stability. For example, the shoulder ligaments connect your humerus to your shoulder blade and prevent the shoulder from becoming unstable.
• Tendons — These are also durable similar in substance to ligaments 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 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 experience joint pain, that means the joint cannot function properly Your brain wants you to do something about it. Proven physical therapy in Gray Summit, MO is often get your brain to quite down and stop sending you pain signals.

Common Causes of Joint Pain | Gray Summit, MO Physical Therapy

Joint pain can occur because of a variety of conditions. Those conditions can range in severity; some are not totally curable but pain can be slowed down. Other times we can be pain-free with full mobility in a matter of weeks. All of them, however, require a well founded treatment plan and the stewardship of a professional physical and occupational therapist in Gray Summit, MO like those at Axes. The most common causes of joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella term that includes several different diagnoses. Most people with arthritis have what is called osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage that acts as a shock absorber at the ends of your bones degenerates. 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 incorrectly attacks healthy cells, usually in the joints.

While we have yet to find a a cure for arthritis, pain and stiffness can be managed with evidence-backed physical therapy by boosting flexibility and building up strength in the muscles around the joint. Physical therapy is an aspect of arthritis treatment along with medications, supplements, and topical treatments. The Gray Summit, MO physical therapists at Axes will form a team with you and your physician to create a customized treatment plan aimed at getting you back to the things you enjoy.

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, a blow to the joint, repeated movements, or, rarely, 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 go a long way in preventing future trauma and rebuild 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 around the joint become swollen or irritated. It is caused by tasks involving repetitive motions such as landscaping work. It can also occur a sudden sports injury. Most cases of tendinitis involve the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will slowly strengthen and elongate the tendon to make further injuries less likely. If a tendon becomes torn, you may need surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains transpire when a ligament is extended or torn because of falling, buckling, 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 daily tasks.

If you’re experiencing joint pain, come to Axes for one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain experts in Gray Summit, MO. If what’s causing your joint pain requires surgery, come to us for your pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

How Physical Therapy in Gray Summit, MO Can Help Your Joint Pain

No one Gray Summit, MO resident’s joint pain is exactly like someone else’s, so your specific treatment plan will be based on the underlying conditions and degree of your joint pain, how old you are, your occupational needs, and the lifestyle you want to get back to or achieve. 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 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 Gray Summit, MO physical and occupational therapists are pros; 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 Gray Summit, MO:

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

Click on the links below to see what other services we offer in Gray Summit, 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 Gray Summit, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and other issues that require physical therapy, can take a physical toll, it can also impact us emotionally by not letting us to what makes us happy in life. At Axes PT, every one of our professional Gray Summit, MO occupational and physical therapists is dedicated to seeing you be able to participate in the activities you love. All of our treatment plans are evidence-based and tailored to you, with the only interest being getting you a positive patient outcome. Everything we do has been backed by science. If you’ve been waiting to move on from your joint pain in Gray Summit, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.