Joint Pain in Lake St. Louis, MO. If immobilizing joint pain is preventing you from living the life you want to, the qualified physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT will help you get back to the activities in Lake St. Louis, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, recently received a diagnosis, or were injured by trauma, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to come up with a proven treatment plan that is catered exactly to 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 dominating your local softball league, 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 all too common for Lake St. Louis, MO residents. In the United States, approximately 25% of adults experience joint pain. While it can be severely limiting, meaningful relief is attainable. You should always see a doctor before starting physical therapy. While no therapy will work for everyone all the time, physical therapy has shown widespread success for people with joint pain. Contact Axes for for a free injury screening and to be referred to a physician.

Understanding Joint Pain | Lake St. Louis, MO Physical Therapy

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

1. Synarthrosis joints are immovable, but provide firm connections between adjacent bones, for example the bones in your skull.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints allow for limited movement, such as the distal joint between the two shin bones.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also referred to as synovial joints, allow a full scope of of movement. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six classifications of diarthrosis joints:
   1. Pivot, which permits rotary movement around a single axis
   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 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 freedom of movement and including rotational mobility

A human adult has 206 bones which are affixed 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 shock absorption.
• 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 joint and bone.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of firm and pliable tissue that connect two bones together, hold them in place, 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 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 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.

We experience pain because our brain is trying to tell 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. Proven physical therapy in Lake St. Louis, MO is often the best way to treat joint pain.

Common Causes of Joint Pain | Lake St. Louis, MO Physical Therapy

Joint pain can occur because of a variety of conditions. Those conditions can range in severity; some cannot be cured 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 smart treatment plan and the stewardship of a knowledgeable physical and occupational therapist in Lake St. Louis, 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 degenerative joint disease characterized by the wearing down of the cartilage at the end of your bones. It typically occurs with old age, repeated trauma, or overuse.

Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune diseases wherein your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, usually in the joints.

While we have yet to find a a cure for arthritis, improved mobility and reduced pain can be achieved with evidence-backed physical therapy by allowing the joint to move with greater ease. Physical therapy is an aspect of arthritis treatment along with medications, supplements, and topical treatments. The Lake St. Louis, MO physical therapists at Axes will in concert with you and your doctor to put together a holistic treatment plan with the objective of getting you back to the things you enjoy.

Bursitis

Bursitis causes joint pain when the fluid-filled sacs lining your joints become inflamed and cannot protect the joint as well when it’s moved. It can be because of overuse, trauma, repeated motions, or, in some rare cases, infection. The majority of bursitis cases involve the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee. Effective physical therapy treatments along with patient education can go a long way in preventing future trauma and maintain 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 causes joint pain when the tendons around the joint become inflamed or damaged. It can happen with tasks involving repetitive motions such as pitching in baseball. is also a common 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 is ruptured, a physician may advise surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains occur when a ligament is extended or torn as a result of twisting, stepping on uneven ground, or direct force to the area. Tears transpire 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 profoundly impact your ability to perform daily activities.

If you have persistent join pain, take advantage of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain experts in Lake St. Louis, 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.

How Physical Therapy in Lake St. Louis, MO Can Help Your Joint Pain

No one Lake St. Louis, MO resident’s joint pain is exactly like someone else’s, so your specific treatment plan will be based on the underlying conditions and level 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 manage any future pain and prevent further injuries.

While it may seem natural to avoid movements that cause joint pain, in reality not moving affected joints the pain and stiffness may only get worse. At Axes, our Lake St. Louis, 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 help you learn how to reduce strain on joints with posture correction and other patient education.

Depending on you, your joint pain, and your needs, we may use the following treatments in Lake St. Louis, 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 Lake St. Louis, 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 Lake St. Louis, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and other issues that require physical therapy, is a physical hardship, it can also affect us emotionally by keeping us away from the things we enjoy. At Axes PT, our entire team of knowledgeable Lake St. Louis, 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 to see you pain-free and with the best movement health possible. Everything we do has been confirmed with studies. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in Lake St. Louis, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.