Joint Pain in South County, MO. If your ability to enjoy a pain-free life is jeopardized by joint pain, the qualified physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT is here to get you back to the activities in South County, MO you love the most. Whether you are experiencing chronic pain, recently received a diagnosis, or were injured by trauma, we’ll work in concert with you as a team to develop a treatment plan that has been demonstrated to be successful that is personalized specifically for 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 dominating your local pickleball league, or just want to get dressed without pain, contact us online or find the closest location for you.

Joint pain is all too common for South County, MO residents. In the United States, roughly one in four adults experience joint pain. While it can be significantly inhibiting, meaningful relief is attainable. It is important to see a doctor before starting physical therapy. While no treatment is guaranteed to make everyone entirely pain free, physical therapy has shown widespread success for patients with joint pain. Contact Axes for for a free injury screening and to be referred to a physician.

Understanding Joint Pain | South County, MO Physical Therapy

The many joints in human anatomy have many shapes, sizes, and purposes, but they all join bones together. There are three classifications of joints:

1. Synarthrosis joints allow for no movement, but provide firm connections between adjacent bones, for instance the bones in your cranium.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints are slightly moveable, for example the distal joint between the tibia and fibula.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also called synovial joints, allow a wide range of mobility. Examples are your shoulder knee. There are six classifications of synovial joints:
   1. Pivot, which allows rotary movement around a single axis
   2. Plane or gliding, which permits bones to glide over each other
   3. Hinge, which permits bending and straightening in a single direction
   4. Condyloid, which allows side to side and circular movements
   5. Saddle, which also allow for sideways and circular movements
   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 fastened by 360 joints. The majority of them are synovial joints, which are made up of:

• Cartilage — Cartilage 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 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 joint and bone.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of tough connective tissue that connect bone to bone, do not allow them to move unnaturally, and help you move properly. For example, the shoulder ligaments connect your humerus to your shoulder blade and prevent the shoulder from becoming unstable.
• Tendons — These are also durable and elastic tissue that attaches muscle to bone.
• Bursae — These are fluid-filled sacs lining different parts of the joint that act as a shock absorber 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 tell us that something is wrong. When you suffer 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 know it needs attention. Evidence-based physical therapy in South County, MO is often get your brain to quite down and stop sending you pain signals.

Why We Feel Joint Pain | South County, MO Physical Therapy

There are several conditions that can cause persistent joint pain. Those conditions differ significantly in severity; some cannot be cured but meaningful relief is possible. In other cases joints can fully recover in just a few weeks. All of them, however, require a sound treatment plan and the guidance of a professional physical and occupational therapist in South County, MO like those at Axes. The most common causes of joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is a broad 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 between bones. Old age is the most common risk factor, but overuse and repeated trauma are also associated causes.

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

While there is no cure for arthritis, improved mobility and reduced pain can be achieved with evidence-backed physical therapy by increasing flexibility and strengthening the muscles around the joint. In addition to physical therapy, treatment for arthritis often includes medication and, in some cases, surgery. The South County, MO physical therapists at Axes will work directly with you and your doctor to put together a personalized treatment plan with the objective of bringing piece and mobility back to your everyday life.

Bursitis

Bursitis leads to joint pain when the fluid-filled sacs lining your joints become swollen and cannot reduce the friction between parts of the joint. It can be caused by overuse, injury, repeated movements, or, rarely, infection. It most commonly occurs in the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee. Effective physical therapy treatments along with patient education can help prevent future flare-ups and rebuild strength and flexibility in the joint. Taking precautions and following a treatment plan can cure bursitis in less than a month.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis causes joint pain when the tendons connecting the bones and muscles become inflamed or damaged. It is caused by activities that require repetitive motions such as landscaping work. is also a common sports injury. Most cases of tendinitis involve the shoulders, heels, elbows, and knees. Physical therapy will help safely strengthen and elongate the tendon to prevent further injuries. If a tendon tears, a physician may advise surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains cause joint pain when a ligament is stretched or torn as a result of falling, stepping on uneven ground, or a blow to the joint. Tears happen when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While you may be able to recover from a sprain in a few weeks, recovering from a tear is much more difficult. Tears such as rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can be extremely painful and make daily activities challenging if not impossible.

If you have persistent join pain, consider one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain specialists in South County, 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.

How Physical Therapy in South County, MO Can Help Your Joint Pain

We assess each South County, MO patients as an individual, so we’ll cater your treatment based on the cause and level of your joint pain, how old you are, your occupational needs, and the your desired activity level. As we progress through your rehabilitation, 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 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 South County, MO physical and occupational therapists understand what it takes to get positive patient outcomes; we know how to help you enhance mobility and strength without causing further damage. We can also show you how to better protect your joints with posture correction and other techniques.

Depending on you, your joint pain, and your needs, your treatment plan in South County, MO may include:

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

Click on the links below to see what other services we offer in South County, 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 South County, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and any kind of pain, is a physical burden, it can also impact us mentally by not allowing us to live the life we want. At Axes PT, our entire team of professional South County, MO occupational and physical therapists is devoted 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 to see you pain-free and with the best movement health possible. All of our techniques have been backed by science. If you’ve been waiting to move on from your joint pain in South County, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.