Joint Pain in Mehlville, MO. If immobilizing joint pain is preventing you from living the life you want to, the experienced physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT is here to get you back to the activities in Mehlville, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, recently received a diagnosis, or had an awkward fall, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to implement a treatment plan that has been demonstrated to be successful that is personalized specifically for you to help find meaningful pain relief. 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 go up and down the stairs without pain, contact us online or find the nearest location for you.

Joint pain is debilitating for many Mehlville, MO residents. In the United States, approximately a quarter of adults experience joint pain. While it can be considerably debilitating, meaningful relief is possible. You should always see a doctor before starting physical therapy. While no remedy 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 | Mehlville, MO Physical Therapy

The human body has hundreds of joints, but they all attach bones together. There are three categories of joints:

1. Synarthrosis joints allow for no movement, meaning they connect bones but cannot move, for instance the bones in your skull.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints are partially moveable, for example the vertebrae in the spine.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also known as synovial joints, allow a wide range of mobility. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six classes of synovial joints:
   1. Pivot, which allows rotation around a single 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 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 degree 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 — 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 the inner capsules of synovial joints and tendon sheaths. It produces synovial fluid, a thick liquid that acts as a lubricant and reduces friction when bones glide over each other.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of firm and flexible tissue that connect two bones together and provide stability. For example, the shoulder ligaments connect your humerus to your shoulder blade and prevent the shoulder from becoming unstable.
• Tendons — These are also durable connective tissue 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 your tendons, ligaments, and muscles glide over your bones.
• 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 feel joint pain, that means some part of the innerworkings of your joint are damaged and cannot function as intended Your brain wants you to be cautious and take steps to address the problem. Evidence-based physical therapy in Mehlville, MO is often needed to address the issue.

Common Causes of Joint Pain | Mehlville, MO Physical Therapy

There are numerous factors that can lead to immobilizing joint pain. Those conditions can range in severity; some cannot be cured but symptoms can be alleviated. In other cases joints can fully recover in a matter of weeks. All of them, however, require an optimal treatment plan and the stewardship of a licensed physical and occupational therapist in Mehlville, MO like those at Axes. The most common causes of joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella 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. It generally occurs with old age, repeated trauma, or overuse.

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

While as far as modern medicine goes arthritis cannot be cured, pain and other symptoms can be managed with effective 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 Mehlville, MO physical therapists at Axes will work directly with you and your physician to create a customized treatment plan aimed at getting you back to the things you enjoy.

Bursitis

Bursitis causes joint pain when the bursae become swollen and cannot protect the joint as well when it’s moved. It can be the result of overuse, trauma, repeated movements, or, in some rare cases, infection. The majority of bursitis cases involve 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 maintain 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 connecting the bones and muscles become inflamed or irritated. It is caused by activities involving repetitive motions such as pitching in baseball. is also a common sports injury. It’s most common in the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will slowly strengthen and lengthen the tendon to reduce the risk of further injuries. If a tendon snaps, you may need surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains happen when a ligament is stretched or torn due to twisting, landing awkwardly, or direct trauma to the joint. 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 be extremely painful and make basic tasks challenging if not impossible.

If joint pain is affecting your daily life, come to Axes for one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain specialists in Mehlville, MO. If your joint pain is severe enough to require surgery, come to us for your pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

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

No one Mehlville, MO resident’s joint pain is exactly like someone else’s, so your specific treatment plan will be based on the cause and severity of your joint pain, how old you are, what you do for 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 do at home safely, so you can continue to manage any future pain and prevent future flare-ups.

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 Mehlville, MO physical and occupational therapists know what they’re doing; we do not take any risks that might make your symptoms worse. We can also teach you how to better protect your joints with posture correction and other patient education.

Depending on the specifics of your joint pain, your treatment plan in Mehlville, MO may include:

• 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 Mehlville, 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 Mehlville, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and other issues that require physical therapy, can take a physical toll, it can also impact us mentally by not allowing us to live the life we want. At Axes PT, our entire team of experienced Mehlville, MO occupational and physical therapists is devoted to seeing you be able to participate in the activities you love. We believe the best way to get our patients back to optimal health and a pain-free life is by working with them as a team and implementing treatment plans tailored specifically to them. Everything we do has been backed by science. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in Mehlville, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.