Joint Pain in Hazelwood, MO. If immobilizing joint pain is making your life more painful then it used to be, the experienced physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT will help you get back to the activities in Hazelwood, MO you love the most. Whether you have chronic pain, recently received a diagnosis, or were injured by trauma, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to create a proven treatment plan that is catered exactly to you to help significantly alleviate your pain. Our practice based on giving you, the client, an extraordinary experience. If you want to get back to dominating corners on the football field, or just want to tie your shoes without pain, contact us online or find the most convenient location for you.

Joint pain affects many Hazelwood, MO residents. In the U.S., an estimated a quarter of adults experience joint pain. While it can be significantly inhibiting, there is a way to manage it and make it go away. It’s a good idea to consult with a doctor to see if physical therapy is safe for you. While no therapy is guaranteed to make everyone entirely pain free, 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 | Hazelwood, MO Physical Therapy

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

1. Synarthrosis joints allow for no movement, help provide stability by holding bonds together, such as the sutures in your skull.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints provide partial movement, for example the distal joint between the two shin bones.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also referred to as synovial joints, allow a wide range of movement. Examples are your shoulder knee. There are six categories of synovial joints:
   1. Pivot, which allows 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 also allow for side to side and circular movements
   6. Ball-and-socket joints allow the highest freedom of movement and including rotational mobility

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

• Cartilage — Cartilage is a connective tissue that is firm and flexible and sits on the ends of 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 lowers friction when bones glide over each other.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of durable and pliable tissue that connect bone to bone 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 similar in substance to ligaments that attaches your bones to the muscles that control their movement.
• Bursae — These are fluid-filled sacs between bones and surrounding tissues that act as a shock absorber and reduce friction as the different parts of a joint interact with each other.
• 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 tell us that something is wrong. When you suffer joint pain, that means the joint cannot function properly Your brain wants you to do something about it. Proven physical therapy in Hazelwood, MO is often needed to address the issue.

Common Causes of Joint Pain | Hazelwood, MO Physical Therapy

Joint pain can occur because of a variety of conditions. Those conditions can range in severity; some are not completely curable but meaningful relief is possible. Other times we can be pain-free with full mobility in just a few weeks. All of them, however, require a well founded treatment plan and the guidance of a qualified physical and occupational therapist in Hazelwood, MO like those at Axes. The most common causes of joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella 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 are also associated causes.

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

While there is no cure for arthritis, improved mobility and reduced pain can be achieved with evidence-backed physical therapy by boosting 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 Hazelwood, MO physical therapists at Axes will in concert with you and your physician to implement a holistic 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 cushion the joint as well. It can be caused by overuse, injury, repeated movements, or, uncommonly, 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 causes joint pain when the tendons around the joint become inflamed or irritated. It can happen with actions involving repetitive motions such as painting. It can also be caused by 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 reduce the risk of further injuries. If a tendon becomes torn, it may require surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains occur when a ligament is extended or torn because of twisting, stepping on uneven ground, or a blow to the area. Tears are when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While the recovery time for a sprain is usually a few weeks, the recovery time is much longer with tears. Tears such as rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can cause significant pain and make basic activities difficult if not impossible.

If you have joint pain that won’t go away, take advantage of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain professionals in Hazelwood, MO. If your joint pain is severe enough to require surgery, we’ll work with you to create a personalized pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

What Physical Therapy in Hazelwood, MO Can Do for Your Joint Pain

No one Hazelwood, MO resident’s joint pain is exactly like someone else’s, so we’ll cater your treatment based on the root causes and level of your joint pain, your age, how your pain affects your ability to 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 future flare-ups.

While most of us don’t want to try and do anything that might lead to more joint pain, immobility will only aggravate your pain in the end. At Axes, our Hazelwood, 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 show you how to lessen the burden put on your joints with posture correction and other patient education.

Depending on you, your joint pain, and your needs, we may use the following treatments in Hazelwood, 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 Hazelwood, 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 Relief in Hazelwood, 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 keeping us away from the things we enjoy. At Axes PT, our entire team of professional Hazelwood, MO occupational and physical therapists is committed to seeing you be able to take part in the activities you love. All of our treatment plans are evidence-based and tailored to you, with the only interest being to see you pain-free and with the best movement health possible. Everything we do has been confirmed with research. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in Hazelwood, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.