Joint Pain in Preston Woods, MO. If your ability to enjoy a pain-free life is jeopardized by joint pain, the experienced physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT will help you get back to the activities in Preston Woods, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or sustained an injury, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to come up with an evidence-based treatment plan that is catered exactly to you to help considerably assuage your pain. Our practice is client-centered, and achieving positive, pain-free outcomes. If you want to get back to dominating corners on the football field, or just want to tend your garden without pain, reach out to us us online or find the most convenient location for you.

Joint pain is debilitating for many Preston Woods, MO residents. In the United States, about 25% of adults suffer from joint pain. While it can be severely restrictive, there is a way to manage it and make it go away. You should always consult with a physician to see if physical therapy is safe for you. While no therapy will work for everyone all the time, physical therapy has countless people with joint pain improve their daily lives. Contact Axes for for a free injury screening and to be referred to a physician.

Understanding Joint Pain | Preston Woods, MO Physical Therapy

There are many different kinds of joints in human anatomy, but they all attach bones together. There are three types of joints:

1. Synarthrosis joints are immovable, meaning they connect bones but cannot move, such as the gomphoses in your cranium.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints are slightly moveable, such as the vertebrae in the back.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also referred to as synovial joints, allow a full scope of of mobility. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six classes of synovial joints:
   1. Pivot, which permits rotary movement around a single axis
   2. Plane or gliding, which allows bones to glide over each other
   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 sideways and circular movements
   6. Ball-and-socket joints allow the greatest freedom of movement and including rotational mobility

One fully grown, the human body has 206 bones which are connected by 360 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 between the bones. 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 makes synovial fluid, a thick, lubricating egg white-like substance that lowers friction between the cartilage.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of firm and flexible tissue that connect two bones together, 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 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 cushion and reduce friction between the moving parts of a joint.
• 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 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 be cautious and take steps to address the problem. Evidence-based physical therapy in Preston Woods, MO is often needed to address the issue.

Common Causes of Joint Pain | Preston Woods, 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 symptoms can be slowed down. In other cases we can be pain-free with full mobility in just a few weeks. All of them, however, require an optimal treatment plan and the guidance of a experienced physical and occupational therapist in Preston Woods, 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 occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones breaks down. It typically occurs with old age, repeated trauma, or overuse.

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

While there is no cure for arthritis, pain and other symptoms can be managed with evidence-backed physical therapy by reducing the stress placed on the joint with improved strength and flexibility. In addition to physical therapy, treatment for arthritis often includes medication and, in some cases, surgery. The Preston Woods, MO physical therapists at Axes will form a team with you and your physician to come up with a holistic treatment plan aimed at bringing piece and mobility back to your everyday life.

Bursitis

Bursitis leads to joint pain when the fluid-filled sacs lining your joints become inflamed and cannot cushion the joint as well. It can be the result of overuse, trauma, repeated movements, 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 go a long way in preventing future trauma and rebuild strength and flexibility in the joint. Taking precautions and following a treatment plan can return you to normal in less than a month.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis can be a joint pain culprit when the tendons around the joint become swollen or irritated. It is caused by tasks that require repetitive motions such as painting. It can also be caused by a sudden sports injury. Most cases of tendinitis involve the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will lightly strengthen and lengthen the tendon to make further injuries less likely. If a tendon becomes torn, a physician may advise surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains transpire when a ligament is extended or torn as a result of twisting, landing on uneven ground, or direct force 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 typically require many months to recover from. Tears like rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can cause significant pain and profoundly impact your ability to perform daily activities.

If you’re experiencing joint pain, come to Axes for one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain specialists in Preston Woods, 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 Preston Woods, MO Can Do for Your Joint Pain

All of our Preston Woods, MO clients are unique, so your particular treatment plan will be based on the underlying reasons for and level of your joint pain, how old you are, your occupational needs, and the your desired activity level. 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 our natural instinct is to avoid movements that cause joint pain, immobility will only aggravate your pain in the end. At Axes, our Preston Woods, 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 techniques.

Depending on you, your joint pain, and your needs, we may use the following treatments in Preston Woods, 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 Preston Woods, 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 Relief in Preston Woods, 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 knowledgeable Preston Woods, 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 getting you a positive patient outcome. All of our techniques have been proven to be effective. If you’ve been waiting to move on from your joint pain in Preston Woods, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.