Joint Pain in Saint Paul, 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 Saint Paul, MO you love the most. Whether you are experiencing chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or were injured by trauma, we’ll work alongside you as a team to develop a treatment plan that has been demonstrated to be effective that is unique to you to help considerably diminish your pain. Our practice is client-centered, and achieving positive, pain-free outcomes. If you want to get back to dominating your local basketball league, or just want to get dressed without pain, contact us online or find the nearest location for you.

Joint pain is a problem for many Saint Paul, MO residents. In the United States, roughly a quarter of adults suffer from joint pain. While it can be severely restrictive, meaningful relief is attainable. You should always see a doctor before starting physical therapy. While no remedy is 100% successful for 100% of patients, physical therapy has shown widespread success for people with joint pain. Contact Axes for safe, effective, and tailored treatment in Saint Paul, MO.

Understanding Joint Pain | Saint Paul, MO Physical Therapy

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

1. Synarthrosis joints allow for no movement, but provide strong connections between adjacent bones, for example the gomphoses in your cranium.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints are partially moveable, such as the vertebrae in the spine.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also called synovial joints, make most of the movements our bodies make possible. Examples are your ankle knee. There are six classes of diarthrosis 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 permits the same 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 linked by almost 400 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 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 liquid that acts as a lubricant and reduces friction when you move your joints.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of durable connective tissue that connect bone to bone, 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 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 in the middle of the joint and is filled with the synovial fluid.

Our brain sends us pain signals when we are injured to notify us that something is wrong. When you feel 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 do something about it. Proven physical therapy in Saint Paul, MO is often get your brain to quite down and stop sending you pain signals.

What Leads to Joint Pain | Saint Paul, MO Physical Therapy

There are countless factors that can cause crippling joint pain. Those conditions differ wildly in severity; some are not entirely curable but meaningful relief is possible. In other cases joints can fully recover in less than a month. All of them, however, require a sound treatment plan and the care of a knowledgeable physical and occupational therapist in Saint Paul, MO like those at Axes. Some conditions and events that can cause 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 conditions that attack the healthy tissues in your body.

While as far as modern medicine goes arthritis cannot be cured, improved mobility and reduced pain can be achieved with evidence-backed physical therapy by improving flexibility and strengthening the muscles around the joint. Physical therapy is an aspect of arthritis treatment along with medications, supplements, and topical treatments. The Saint Paul, MO physical therapists at Axes will form a team with you and your doctor to create a personalized treatment plan with the objective of 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 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 flexibility and strength exercises, coupled with rest along with patient education can help prevent further trauma and rebuild strength and flexibility in the surrounding muscles. Taking precautions and following a treatment plan can cure bursitis in a few weeks.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis causes joint pain when the tendons around the joint become inflamed or irritated. It can happen with actions involving repetitive motions such as in manual labor. is also a common sports injury. It’s most common in the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will gently strengthen and lengthen the tendon to make further injuries less likely. If a tendon snaps, a physician may advise surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains cause joint pain when a ligament is stretched or torn due to twisting, buckling, or a blow to the area. Tears transpire when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While after most sprains you can be back to normal in 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 activities challenging if not impossible.

If you’re experiencing joint pain, consider one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain specialists in Saint Paul, MO. If what’s causing your joint pain requires surgery, we’ll work with you to create a personalized pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

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

All of our Saint Paul, MO patients are unique, so we’ll cater your treatment based on the underlying reasons for and severity of your joint pain, your age, what you do for work, 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 future flare-ups.

While most of us don’t want to try and do anything that might lead to more joint pain, in reality not moving affected joints the pain and stiffness may only get worse. At Axes, our Saint Paul, 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 help you learn how to lessen the burden put on your joints with posture correction and other patient education.

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

• 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 Saint Paul, 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 Saint Paul, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and any kind of pain, can take a physical toll, it can also affect us emotionally by keeping us away from the things we enjoy. At Axes PT, every one of our experienced Saint Paul, MO occupational and physical therapists is committed to seeing you be able to participate 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 studies. If you’ve been waiting to move on from your joint pain in Saint Paul, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.