Joint Pain in Lemay, 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 Lemay, MO you love the most. Whether you have chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or sustained an injury, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to develop a treatment plan that has been demonstrated to be successful that is catered exactly to 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 pick up your grandchildren without pain, get in touch with us us online or find the nearest location for you.

Joint pain is debilitating for many Lemay, MO residents. In the U.S., about 25% of adults suffer from joint pain. While it can be severely debilitating, meaningful relief is attainable. You should always see a doctor before starting physical therapy. While no treatment is 100% effective for 100% of patients, physical therapy has shown widespread success for people with joint pain. Contact Axes for safe, effective, and tailored treatment in Lemay, MO.

Understanding Joint Pain | Lemay, MO Physical Therapy

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

1. Synarthrosis joints are immovable, meaning they connect bones but cannot move, for example the bones in your skull.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints are slightly moveable, for example the vertebrae in the spine.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also called synovial joints, permit a full scope of of movement. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six classes of diarthrosis joints:
   1. Pivot, which allows 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 side to side and circular movements
   5. Saddle, which permits the same movements as condyloid joints
   6. Ball-and-socket joints allow any of the movements the human body can naturally make

One fully grown, the human body 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 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 many parts of the inside of synovial joints and tendon sheaths. It makes synovial fluid, a thick, lubricating egg white-like substance that lowers friction between the joint and bone.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of durable 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 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 cushion and reduce friction when you move your joints.
• 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 feel joint pain, that means the joint cannot function properly Your brain wants you to do something about it. Demonstrably effective physical therapy in Lemay, MO is often get your brain to quite down and stop sending you pain signals.

Common Causes of Joint Pain | Lemay, MO Physical Therapy

Joint pain can occur because of a variety of conditions. Those conditions differ wildly 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 an optimal treatment plan and the care of a qualified physical and occupational therapist in Lemay, MO like those at Axes. The most common causes of joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is a general term for several conditions that cause joint pain. Most people with arthritis suffer from 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 are also associated causes.

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

While as far as modern medicine goes arthritis cannot be cured, improved mobility and reduced pain can be achieved with evidence-backed physical therapy by allowing the joint to move with greater ease. In addition to physical therapy, treatment for arthritis often includes medication and, in some cases, surgery. The Lemay, MO physical therapists at Axes will in concert with you and your doctor to come up with a comprehensive treatment plan aimed at getting you back to the things you enjoy.

Bursitis

Bursitis leads to joint pain when the bursae become inflamed and cannot reduce the friction between parts of the joint. It can be because of overuse, a blow to the joint, repeated motions, 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 go a long way in preventing future trauma and rebuild strength and flexibility in the joint. 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 injured. It can happen with activities involving repetitive motions such as shoveling. It can also be caused by a sudden sports injury. It’s most common in the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will help safely strengthen and elongate the tendon to reduce the risk of further injuries. If a tendon becomes torn, you may need surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains happen when a ligament is stretched or torn because of falling, buckling, or direct trauma to the area. Tears cause joint pain when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While you may be able to recover from a sprain in a few weeks, tears often require many months to recover from. Tears such as rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can cause significant pain and make daily activities difficult if not impossible.

If you have persistent join pain, take advantage of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain professionals in Lemay, MO. If a physician recommends surgery, come to us for your pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

How Physical Therapy in Lemay, MO Can Help Your Joint Pain

We evaluate each Lemay, MO patients as an individual, so your particular treatment plan will be based on the cause and severity of your joint pain, how old you are, how your pain affects your ability to work, and the lifestyle you want to get back to or achieve. 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 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 Lemay, 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 better protect your joints with posture correction and other techniques.

Depending on the specifics of your joint pain, we may use the following treatments in Lemay, 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 Lemay, 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 Lemay, 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 licensed Lemay, MO occupational and physical therapists is committed to getting you back to 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. All of our treatments have been backed by science. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in Lemay, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.