Joint Pain in St. Ann, MO. If your ability to enjoy a pain-free life is jeopardized by joint pain, the knowledgeable physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT is here to get you back to the activities in St. Ann, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or had an awkward fall, we’ll work with you as a team to develop a treatment plan that has been demonstrated to be effective that is catered exactly to you to help considerably reduce your pain. Our practice based on giving you, the client, a remarkable experience. If you want to get back to dominating your local softball league, or just want to tie your shoes without pain, get in touch with us us online or find the closest location for you.

Joint pain is a problem for many St. Ann, MO residents. In the U.S., about one in four adults live with joint pain. While it can be considerably restrictive, it doesn’t have to control your life. You should always see a doctor before starting physical therapy. While no remedy is 100% effective for 100% of patients, 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 | St. Ann, MO Physical Therapy

The many joints in human anatomy have many shapes, sizes, and purposes, but they all share the function of connecting bones together. There are three types of joints:

1. Synarthrosis joints are immovable, meaning they connect bones but cannot move, such as the sutures 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, permit a wide range of movement. Examples are your shoulder knee. There are six classes of synovial joints:
   1. Pivot, which allows rotation around one 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 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

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 covers the surface of the joint. Its purpose is to act as a shock absorber.
• Synovial membrane — This membrane lines the joint cavity synovial joints and tendon sheaths. It produces synovial fluid, a thick, lubricating egg white-like substance that lowers friction when bones glide over each other.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of firm and pliable tissue that connect two bones together and provide stability. 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 connective tissue that attaches your bones to the muscles that control their movement.
• Bursae — These are fluid-filled sacs between bones and surrounding tissues that act as a shock absorber and reduce friction as the different parts of a joint interact with each other.
• Joint Cavity — This is in the middle of the joint and holds the synovial fluid.

We experience pain because our brain is trying to tell us that we are injured.. When you feel joint pain, that means the joint cannot function properly Your brain wants you to be cautious and take steps to address the problem. Demonstrably effective physical therapy in St. Ann, MO is often the best way to treat joint pain.

Common Causes of Joint Pain | St. Ann, MO Physical Therapy

Joint pain can occur because of a variety of conditions. Those conditions can range in severity; some are not totally curable but pain can be mitigated. Other times joints can be made healthy in just a few weeks. All of them, however, require an optimal treatment plan and the guidance of a qualified physical and occupational therapist in St. Ann, MO like those at Axes. Some conditions and events that can result in joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella term for several conditions that cause joint pain. Most people with arthritis have what is called osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage that acts as a shock absorber at the ends of your bones degenerates. 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 conditions that attack the healthy tissues in your body.

While as far as modern medicine goes arthritis cannot be cured, pain and stiffness can be managed with safe and practical physical therapy by reducing the stress placed on the joint with improved strength and flexibility. Physical therapy is an aspect of arthritis treatment along with medications, supplements, and topical treatments. The St. Ann, MO physical therapists at Axes will form a team with you and your doctor to implement a customized treatment plan with the objective of getting you back to the things you enjoy.

Bursitis

Bursitis causes joint pain when the bursae become swollen and cannot cushion the joint as well. It can be because of overuse, injury, repeated movements, or, uncommonly, infection. It most commonly occurs in the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee. Effective physical therapy treatments along with patient education can go a long way in preventing more bursitis down the road and maintain strength and flexibility in the joint. Taking precautions and following a treatment plan can cure bursitis in less than a month.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis can be a joint pain culprit when the tendons connecting the bones and muscles become inflamed or damaged. It is caused by actions that require repetitive motions such as gardening. 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 happen when a ligament is extended or torn as a result of falling, landing on uneven ground, or direct force to the joint. Tears transpire when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While after most sprains you can be back to normal in a few weeks, tears usually require many months to recover from. Tears such as rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can be extremely painful and profoundly impact your ability to perform daily tasks.

If you’re experiencing joint pain, consider one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain professionals in St. Ann, MO. If what’s causing your joint pain requires surgery, we can be part of your pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

How Physical Therapy in St. Ann, MO Can Help Your Joint Pain

No one St. Ann, MO resident’s joint pain is exactly like someone else’s, so your particular treatment plan will be based on the underlying conditions and level of your joint pain, how old you are, what you do for work, and the lifestyle you want to get back to or achieve. As we progress through your rehabilitation, we’ll show you exercises you can perform at home safely, so you can continue to manage any future pain and prevent further injuries.

While most of us are hesitant 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 St. Ann, MO physical and occupational therapists are pros; we know how to help you enhance mobility and strength without causing further damage. We can also teach 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 St. Ann, 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 St. Ann, 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 St. Ann, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and other issues that require physical therapy, is a physical hardship, it can also impact us mentally by keeping us away from the things we enjoy. At Axes PT, every one of our experienced St. Ann, 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 getting you a positive patient outcome. Everything we do has been backed by science. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in St. Ann, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.