Joint Pain in Ranken, MO. If your ability to enjoy a pain-free life is jeopardized by joint pain, the knowledgeable physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT will help you get back to the activities in Ranken, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, recently received a diagnosis, or sustained an injury, we’ll work with you as a team to develop a proven treatment plan that is catered exactly to you to help you return to your pain-free life. Our practice is client-centered, and achieving positive, pain-free outcomes. If you want to get back to owning your local softball league, or just want to go up and down the stairs without pain, get in touch with us us online or find the nearest location for you.

Joint pain is all too common for Ranken, MO residents. In the U.S., about a quarter of adults live with joint pain. While it can be considerably limiting, meaningful relief is possible. It is important to consult with a doctor to see if physical therapy is right for you. While no treatment is 100% effective for 100% of the population, physical therapy has countless people with joint pain get back to the activities they love. Contact Axes for safe, effective, and tailored treatment in Ranken, MO.

Understanding Joint Pain | Ranken, MO Physical Therapy

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

1. Synarthrosis joints are immovable, but provide firm connections between adjacent bones, for example the bones in your cranium.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints are partially moveable, such as the distal joint between the two shin bones.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also known as synovial joints, make most of the motions our bodies make possible. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six classifications 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 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

A human adult 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 firm and flexible and sits on the ends of the bones. 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 between the joint and bone.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of tough connective 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 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 your tendons, ligaments, and muscles glide over your bones.
• 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 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 know it needs attention. Evidence-based physical therapy in Ranken, MO is often needed to address the issue.

Why We Feel Joint Pain | Ranken, MO Physical Therapy

Joint pain can occur because of a variety of conditions. Those conditions can range in severity; some cannot be cured but symptoms can be controlled. In other cases we can be pain-free with full mobility in a matter of weeks. All of them, however, require a smart treatment plan and the care of a qualified physical and occupational therapist in Ranken, 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 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 wherein your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, most often in the joints.

While there is no cure for arthritis, improved mobility and reduced pain can be achieved with evidence-backed 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 Ranken, MO physical therapists at Axes will form a team with you and your physician to come up with a holistic treatment plan aimed at getting you back to the things you enjoy.

Bursitis

Bursitis leads to joint pain when the bursae become swollen and cannot cushion the joint as well. It can be because of overuse, trauma, repeated movements, or, in some rare cases, infection. The majority of bursitis cases involve the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee. Safe flexibility and strength exercises, coupled with rest along with patient education can help prevent future flare-ups and rebuild strength and flexibility in the joint. With the right treatment, bursitis can go away within a month.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis can be a joint pain culprit when the tendons around the joint become swollen or damaged. It can happen with tasks involving repetitive motions such as landscaping work. 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 snaps, it may require surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains transpire when a ligament is stretched or torn as a result of falling, buckling, or a blow to the area. Tears transpire when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While the recovery time for a sprain is usually 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 profoundly impact your ability to perform daily tasks.

If joint pain is keeping you from the activities you love, consider one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain experts in Ranken, MO. If a physician recommends surgery, come to us for your pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

What Physical Therapy in Ranken, MO Can Do for Your Joint Pain

All of our Ranken, MO patients are unique, so your particular treatment plan will be based on the root causes and level of your joint pain, your age, your occupational needs, 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 find long-term pain relief and go on to enjoy optimal movement health.

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 Ranken, MO physical and occupational therapists are pros; we know how to help you increase mobility and strength without causing further damage. We can also show you how to reduce strain on joints with posture correction and other patient education.

Depending on the specifics of your joint pain, we may use the following treatments in Ranken, MO:

• Dry Needling
• Work Rehabilitation
• Injury Prevention
• Soft Tissue Mobilization
• Kineseo Taping®
• Blood Flow Restriction Training

Check out the links below to see what other services we offer in Ranken, 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 Ranken, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and any kind of pain, can take a physical toll, it can also affect us mentally by not letting us to what makes us happy in life. At Axes PT, our entire team of knowledgeable Ranken, 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. All of our treatments have been confirmed with research. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in Ranken, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.