Joint Pain in Meacham Park, MO. If your ability to enjoy a pain-free life is jeopardized by joint pain, the professional physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT will help you get back to the activities in Meacham Park, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or were injured by trauma, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to develop a treatment plan that has been demonstrated to be effective that is personalized specifically for you to help you return to your pain-free life. 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 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 Meacham Park, MO residents. In the United States, about 25% of adults experience joint pain. While it can be considerably restrictive, it doesn’t have to control your life. It’s a good idea to see a doctor before deciding on physical therapy. While no treatment is guaranteed to make everyone completely pain free, physical therapy has countless people with joint pain get back to the activities they love. Contact Axes for for a no-obligation injury screening and to be referred to a physician.

Understanding Joint Pain | Meacham Park, MO Physical Therapy

The human body has hundreds of joints, but they all share the function of connecting bones together. There are three types of joints:

1. Synarthrosis joints are immovable, but provide strong connections between adjacent bones, for example the gomphoses in your cranium.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints provide partial movement, such as the vertebrae in the spine.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also referred to as synovial joints, make most of the motions our bodies make possible. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six types of diarthrosis joints:
   1. Pivot, which permits 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 flexion, extension, and circular motions
   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

One fully grown, the human body has 206 bones which are affixed by 360 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. Its purpose is to act as a shock absorber.
• Synovial membrane — This membrane lines many parts of the inside of 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 durable and flexible 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 muscles and bones and allow us to move our limbs.
• 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 feel pain because our brain is trying to tell us that we are injured.. When you suffer 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. Demonstrably effective physical therapy in Meacham Park, MO is often needed to address the issue.

Common Causes of Joint Pain | Meacham Park, MO Physical Therapy

There are numerous conditions that can lead to crippling joint pain. Those conditions can range in severity; some cannot be cured but meaningful relief is possible. In other cases joints can be made healthy in just a few weeks. All of them, however, require a sound treatment plan and the care of a knowledgeable physical and occupational therapist in Meacham Park, MO like those at Axes. Some conditions and events that can lead to joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is a general 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 between bones. 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 conditions that attack the healthy tissues in your body.

While we have yet to find a a cure for arthritis, pain and other symptoms can be managed with effective physical therapy by reducing the stress placed on the joint with improved strength and flexibility. Physical therapy is an aspect of arthritis treatment along with medications, supplements, and topical treatments. The Meacham Park, MO physical therapists at Axes will work directly with you and your physician to implement a comprehensive treatment plan with the objective of getting you back to the things you enjoy.

Bursitis

Bursitis causes joint pain when the bursae become inflamed and cannot protect the joint as well when it’s moved. 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 help prevent future trauma and maintain strength and flexibility in the surrounding muscles. Taking precautions and following a treatment plan can return you to normal in a few weeks.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis can be a joint pain culprit when the tendons around the joint become swollen or irritated. It can happen with actions that require repetitive motions such as pitching in baseball. It can also be caused by a sudden sports injury. It’s most common in the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will slowly strengthen and lengthen the tendon to make further injuries less likely. If a tendon is ruptured, it may require surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains occur when a ligament is stretched or torn due to twisting, landing awkwardly, or direct trauma to the area. Tears happen 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 be incredibly painful and profoundly impact your ability to perform basic activities.

If you have joint pain that won’t go away, take advantage of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain specialists in Meacham Park, 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 Meacham Park, MO Can Do for Your Joint Pain

We assess each Meacham Park, MO patients as an individual, so your particular treatment plan will be based on the underlying reasons for and severity of your joint pain, how old you are, your occupational needs, and the lifestyle you want to get back to or achieve. As we progress through our treatment, we’ll show you exercises you can do at home safely, so you can continue to manage any future pain and prevent further injuries.

While most of us are hesitant to try and do anything that might lead to more joint pain, immobility will only worsen your pain in the end. At Axes, our Meacham Park, MO physical and occupational therapists are pros; we know how to help you enhance mobility and strength without causing further pain. We can also show you how to reduce strain on joints with posture correction and other techniques.

Depending on you, your joint pain, and your needs, we may use the following treatments in Meacham Park, 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 Meacham Park, 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 Management in Meacham Park, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and other issues that require physical therapy, can take a physical toll, it can also affect us emotionally by not allowing us to live the life we want. At Axes PT, our entire team of experienced Meacham Park, MO occupational and physical therapists is devoted 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 getting you a positive patient outcome. Everything we do has been confirmed with studies. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in Meacham Park, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.