Joint Pain in O’Fallon, MO. If immobilizing joint pain is preventing you from living the life you want to, the knowledgeable physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT is here to get you back to the activities in O’Fallon, MO you love the most. Whether you are experiencing chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or sustained an injury, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to implement an evidence-based treatment plan that is unique to you to help significantly reduce your pain. 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 stand up and sit down without pain, reach out to us us online or find the nearest location for you.
Joint pain affects many O’Fallon, MO residents. In the United States, an estimated one in four adults suffer from joint pain. While it can be considerably limiting, it doesn’t have to control your life. It is important to see a doctor before deciding on physical therapy. While no therapy 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 safe, effective, and tailored treatment in O’Fallon, MO.
Understanding Joint Pain | O’Fallon, MO Physical Therapy
The human body has hundreds of joints, but they all work to connect bones together. There are three types of joints:
- Synarthrosis joints are immovable, meaning they connect bones but cannot move, for example the gomphoses in your cranium.
- Amphiarthrosis joints are partially moveable, such as the distal joint between the two shin bones.
- Diarthrosis joints, also called synovial joints, make most of the motions our bodies make possible. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six types of diarthrosis joints:
- Pivot, which permits rotary movement around a single axis
- Plane or gliding, which permits bones to glide over each other
- Hinge, which permits bending and straightening in a single direction
- Condyloid, which allows flexion, extension, and circular motions
- Saddle, which also allow for side to side and circular movements
- Ball-and-socket joints allow the highest 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 — Cartilage 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 produces synovial fluid, a thick, lubricating egg white-like substance that 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 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 muscles and bones and allow us to move our limbs.
- 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 experience 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. Proven physical therapy in O’Fallon, MO is often the best way to treat joint pain.
Common Causes of Joint Pain | O’Fallon, MO Physical Therapy
Joint pain can occur because of a variety of conditions. Those conditions can range in severity; some are not entirely curable but meaningful relief is possible. Other times joints can be made healthy in a matter of weeks. All of them, however, require a well founded treatment plan and the guidance of a professional physical and occupational therapist in O’Fallon, MO like those at Axes. Some conditions and events that can lead to joint pain include:
Arthritis
Arthritis is an umbrella term for several conditions that cause joint pain. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and degenerative joint disease characterized by the wearing down of the cartilage at the end of your 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 diseases that attack the healthy tissues in your body.
While there is no cure for arthritis, improved mobility and reduced pain can be achieved 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 O’Fallon, MO physical therapists at Axes will work directly with you and your doctor to create a holistic treatment plan with the objective of 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 the result of overuse, trauma, repeated motions, or, rarely, 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 more bursitis down the road and rebuild strength and flexibility in the joint. Taking precautions and following a treatment plan can make bursitis go away in a few weeks.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis causes joint pain when the tendons around the joint become swollen or damaged. It can happen with tasks involving 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 elongate the tendon to prevent further injuries. If a tendon is ruptured, a physician may advise surgery.
Sprains and Tears
Sprains occur when a ligament is stretched or torn as a result of falling, landing on uneven ground, or direct trauma to the joint. Tears cause joint pain when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While the recovery time for a sprain is usually a few weeks, recovering from a tear is much more difficult. Tears like rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can be extremely painful and profoundly impact your ability to perform basic activities.
If you have persistent join pain, consider one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain experts in O’Fallon, MO. If a physician recommends surgery, we can be part of your pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.
How Physical Therapy in O’Fallon, MO Can Help Your Joint Pain
No one O’Fallon, MO resident’s joint pain is exactly like someone else’s, so we’ll cater your treatment based on the underlying conditions and degree of your joint pain, how old you are, how your pain affects your ability to work, and the your desired activity level. 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 future flare-ups.
While our natural instinct is to avoid movements that cause joint pain, in reality not moving affected joints the pain and stiffness may only get worse. At Axes, our O’Fallon, 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 teach you how to lessen the burden put on your joints with posture correction and other patient education.
Depending on you, your joint pain, and your needs, we may use the following treatments in O’Fallon, 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 O’Fallon, 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 O’Fallon, MO | Axes Physical Therapy
While joint pain, and other issues that require physical therapy, can take a physical toll, it can also impact us emotionally by keeping us away from the things we enjoy. At Axes PT, every one of our professional O’Fallon, 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. All of our techniques have been proven to be effective. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in O’Fallon, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.
