Joint Pain in St. George, 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. George, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, recently received a diagnosis, or had an awkward fall, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to come up with a treatment plan that has been demonstrated to be effective that is unique to you to help find significant pain relief. Our practice is client-centered, and achieving positive, pain-free outcomes. If you want to get back to dominating corners on the football field, or just want to tend your garden without pain, contact us online or find the closest location for you.

Joint pain affects many St. George, MO residents. In the U.S., an estimated a quarter of adults suffer from joint pain. While it can be severely inhibiting, there is a way to manage it and make it go away. It is important to see a doctor before deciding on physical therapy. While no remedy is guaranteed to make everyone completely pain free, physical therapy has shown widespread success for patients with joint pain. Contact Axes for safe, effective, and personalized treatment in St. George, MO.

Understanding Joint Pain | St. George, MO Physical Therapy

The human body has hundreds of joints, but they all work to connect bones together. There are three categories of joints:

1. Synarthrosis joints allow for no movement, help provide stability by holding bonds together, such as the joints in your cranium.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints allow for partial movement, for example the vertebrae in the spine.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also known as synovial joints, make most of the movements our bodies make possible. Examples are your wrist knee. There are six categories of diarthrosis joints:
   1. Pivot, which permits rotation around one point
   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 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 connected by 360 joints. The majority of them are synovial joints, which are made up of:

• Cartilage — This 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 produces synovial fluid, a thick, lubricating egg white-like substance that reduces friction when bones glide over each other.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of tough connective tissue that connect two bones together and provide stability. For example, the the calcaneofibular ligament on the outside of your ankle prevents your foot from rolling inwards.
• Tendons — These are also durable connective tissue 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 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 notify 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 be cautious and take steps to address the problem. Evidence-based physical therapy in St. George, MO is often the best way to treat joint pain.

Why We Feel Joint Pain | St. George, MO Physical Therapy

Joint pain can occur because of a variety of conditions. Those conditions can range in severity; some cannot be cured but meaningful relief is possible. Other times joints can be made healthy in just a few weeks. All of them, however, require an optimal treatment plan and the care of a licensed physical and occupational therapist in St. George, MO like those at Axes. Some conditions and events that can lead to joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is a general 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 breaks down. 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 disorders wherein your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, usually in the joints.

While we have yet to find a a cure for arthritis, pain and stiffness can be managed with effective 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. George, MO physical therapists at Axes will form a team with you and your doctor to put together a customized treatment plan with the objective of bringing piece and mobility back to your everyday life.

Bursitis

Bursitis causes joint pain when the fluid-filled sacs lining your joints become inflamed and cannot reduce the friction between parts of the joint. It can be the result of overuse, a blow to the joint, repeated movements, or, in some rare cases, infection. The majority of bursitis cases involve the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee. Effective physical therapy treatments along with patient education can help prevent future trauma and maintain strength and flexibility in the surrounding muscles. Taking precautions and following a treatment plan can return you to normal in a few weeks.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis can be a joint pain culprit when the tendons connecting the bones and muscles become inflamed or damaged. It can happen with activities involving repetitive motions such as in manual labor. 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 becomes torn, it may require surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains cause joint pain when a ligament is extended or torn due to twisting, stepping on uneven ground, or direct trauma to the joint. Tears cause joint pain 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 cause immense pain and make daily tasks challenging if not impossible.

If you have joint pain that won’t go away, come to Axes for one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain professionals in St. George, MO. If your joint pain is severe enough to require surgery, we’ll work with you to create a personalized pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

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

We treat each St. George, MO patients as an individual, so we’ll cater your treatment based on the root causes and level of your joint pain, how old you are, your occupational needs, and the activities you want to enjoy in the future. 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 further injuries.

While our natural instinct is to avoid movements that cause joint pain, immobility will only worsen your pain in the end. At Axes, our St. George, MO physical and occupational therapists know what they’re doing; we know how to help you increase mobility and strength without causing further pain. We can also help you learn 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 St. George, 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 St. George, 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. George, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and other issues that require physical therapy, can take a physical toll, it can also impact us mentally by keeping us away from the things we enjoy. At Axes PT, every one of our licensed St. George, MO occupational and physical therapists is devoted to seeing you be able to take part 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 techniques have been confirmed with research. If you’ve been waiting to move on from your joint pain in St. George, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.