Joint Pain in St. Clair, 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. Clair, MO you love the most. Whether you are experiencing chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or sustained an injury, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to implement a treatment plan that has been demonstrated to be successful that is catered exactly to you to help significantly alleviate your pain. Our practice based on giving you, the client, an extraordinary experience. If you want to get back to dominating corners on the football field, or just want to tie your shoes without pain, get in touch with us us online or find the most convenient location for you.

Joint pain affects many St. Clair, MO residents. In the United States, approximately one in four adults live with joint pain. While it can be significantly restrictive, it doesn’t have to control your life. It’s a good idea to consult with a doctor to see if physical therapy is appropriate for you. While no treatment is guaranteed to make everyone 100% pain free, physical therapy has shown widespread success for clients with joint pain. Contact Axes for safe, effective, and customized treatment in St. Clair, MO.

Understanding Joint Pain | St. Clair, 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, but provide firm connections between adjacent bones, such as the gomphoses in your cranium.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints allow for partial movement, for example the distal joint between the two shin bones.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also referred to as synovial joints, permit a full scope of of mobility. Examples are your wrist knee. There are six types 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 side to side and circular movements
   6. Ball-and-socket joints allow any of the movements the human body can naturally make

A human adult has 206 bones which are affixed by almost 400 joints. The majority of them are synovial joints, which are made up of:

• Cartilage — This 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 the inner capsules of synovial joints and tendon sheaths. It produces synovial fluid, a thick, lubricating egg white-like substance that lowers friction between the cartilage.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of tough and flexible 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 and elastic tissue that attaches your bones to the muscles that control their movement.
• Bursae — These are fluid-filled sacs lining different parts of the joint that act as a shock absorber 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 the joint cannot function properly Your brain wants you to do something about it. Proven physical therapy in St. Clair, MO is often needed to address the issue.

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

There are a number of conditions that can cause crippling joint pain. Those conditions can range in severity; some cannot be cured but pain can be slowed down. In other cases we can be pain-free with full mobility in less than a month. All of them, however, require a smart treatment plan and the care of a knowledgeable physical and occupational therapist in St. Clair, MO like those at Axes. The most common causes of joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is a broad term that includes several different diagnoses. 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 are also associated causes.

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

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 building up strength in the muscles around the joint. Physical therapy is an aspect of arthritis treatment along with medications, supplements, and topical treatments. The St. Clair, MO physical therapists at Axes will in concert with you and your physician to create a customized treatment plan aimed at getting you back to the things you enjoy.

Bursitis

Bursitis causes joint pain when the fluid-filled sacs lining your joints become swollen and cannot protect the joint as well when it’s moved. It can be caused by overuse, trauma, repeated movements, or, uncommonly, infection. It most commonly occurs in the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee. Effective flexibility and strength exercises, coupled with rest along with patient education can help prevent more bursitis down the road and maintain strength and flexibility in the joint. With the right treatment, bursitis can go away within a few weeks.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis can be a joint pain culprit when the tendons connecting the bones and muscles become swollen or injured. It can happen with actions involving repetitive motions such as gardening. It can also be caused by a sudden sports injury. It usually occur 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 tears, you may need surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains cause joint pain when a ligament is extended or torn because of twisting, stepping on uneven ground, or direct trauma to the joint. Tears happen 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 like 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, take advantage of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain specialists in St. Clair, MO. If your joint pain is severe enough to require surgery, come to us for your pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

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

No one St. Clair, MO resident’s joint pain is exactly like someone else’s, so your particular treatment plan will be based on the cause and severity of your joint pain, how old you are, how your pain affects your ability to work, and the lifestyle you want to get back to or achieve. 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 manage any future pain and prevent future flare-ups.

While most of us are hesitant to try and do anything that might lead to more joint pain, immobility will only exacerbate your symptoms in the end. At Axes, our St. Clair, 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 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 St. Clair, 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 St. Clair, 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 Management in St. Clair, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and any kind of pain, can take a physical toll, it can also impact us emotionally by keeping us away from the things we enjoy. At Axes PT, our entire team of knowledgeable St. Clair, MO occupational and physical therapists is devoted to seeing you be able to participate in the activities you love. We believe the best way to get our patients back to optimal health and a pain-free life is by working with them as a team and implementing treatment plans tailored specifically to them. All of our treatments have been proven to be effective. If you’re finally ready to be free of your joint pain in St. Clair, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.