Joint Pain in Howell, MO. If your ability to enjoy a pain-free life is jeopardized by joint pain, the knowledgeable physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT will help you get back to the activities in Howell, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or sustained an injury, we’ll work with you as a team to create a treatment plan that has been demonstrated to be successful that is personalized specifically for you to help you return to your pain-free life. Our practice focuses on you, the client, and achieving positive, pain-free outcomes. If you want to get back to dominating corners on the football field, or just want to get dressed without pain, get in touch with us us online or find the closest location for you.

Joint pain is debilitating for many Howell, MO residents. In the U.S., an estimated 25% of adults suffer from joint pain. While it can be severely limiting, meaningful relief is attainable. You should always see a doctor before deciding on physical therapy. While no treatment will work for everyone all the time, physical therapy has countless people with joint pain improve their daily lives. Contact Axes for for a free injury screening and to be referred to a physician.

Understanding Joint Pain | Howell, MO Physical Therapy

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

1. Synarthrosis joints allow for no movement, help provide stability by holding bonds together, for example the sutures in your head.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints provide partial movement, for example the distal joint between the two shin bones.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also called synovial joints, make most of the motions our bodies make possible. Examples are your shoulder knee. There are six types of synovial joints:
   1. Pivot, which permits rotation around one point
   2. Plane or gliding, which permits 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 any of the movements the human body can naturally make

A human adult has 206 bones which are fastened by almost 400 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 when you move your joints.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of tough and flexible tissue that connect two bones together and provide stability. For example, the the calcaneofibular ligament on the outside of your ankle prevents your foot from rolling inwards.
• 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 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.

We experience pain because our brain is trying to tell us that we are injured.. When you feel joint pain, that means the joint cannot function properly Your brain wants you to be cautious and take steps to address the problem. Demonstrably effective physical therapy in Howell, MO is often the best way to treat joint pain.

Common Causes of Joint Pain | Howell, MO Physical Therapy

There are a number of conditions that can cause persistent joint pain. Those conditions differ significantly in severity; some are not entirely curable but symptoms can be slowed down. Other times joints can be made healthy in just a few weeks. All of them, however, require a sound treatment plan and the guidance of a qualified physical and occupational therapist in Howell, MO like those at Axes. The most common causes of joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is a broad term that includes several different diagnoses. Most people with arthritis suffer from osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage that acts as a shock absorber at 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 conditions wherein your immune system erroneously attacks healthy cells, most often in the joints.

While as far as modern medicine goes arthritis cannot be cured, improved mobility and reduced pain can be achieved with safe and practical physical therapy by reducing the stress placed on the joint with improved strength and flexibility. In addition to physical therapy, treatment for arthritis often includes medication and, in some cases, surgery. The Howell, MO physical therapists at Axes will work directly with you and your doctor to put together a personalized 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 inflamed and cannot cushion the joint as well. It can be because of overuse, a blow to the joint, repeated movements, or, in some rare cases, infection. It most commonly occurs in the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee. Safe physical therapy treatments along with patient education can go a long way in preventing future flare-ups 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 swollen or damaged. It can happen with activities involving repetitive motions such as gardening. 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 elongate the tendon to make further injuries less likely. If a tendon becomes torn, you may need surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains happen when a ligament is stretched or torn as a result of falling, stepping on uneven ground, or direct trauma to the area. Tears cause joint pain 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 be extremely painful and profoundly impact your ability to perform basic tasks.

If joint pain is affecting your daily life, take advantage of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain specialists in Howell, MO. If what’s causing your joint pain requires surgery, we’ll work with you to create a personalized pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

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

We evaluate each Howell, MO clients as an individual, so your particular treatment plan will be based on the underlying conditions and degree of your joint pain, how old you are, what you do for work, and the activities you want to enjoy in the future. 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 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 Howell, MO physical and occupational therapists are pros; we will help you enhance mobility and strength without causing further pain. We can also teach you how to reduce strain on joints with posture correction and other patient education.

Depending on the specifics of your joint pain, we may use the following treatments in Howell, MO:

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

Take a look at the links below to see what other services we offer in Howell, 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 Howell, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and any kind of pain, is a physical burden, it can also impact us emotionally by keeping us away from the things we enjoy. At Axes PT, our entire team of experienced Howell, 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 proven to be effective. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in Howell, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.