Joint Pain in Union, MO. If your ability to enjoy a pain-free life is jeopardized by joint pain, the experienced physical and occupational therapists of Axes PT is here to get you back to the activities in Union, MO you love the most. Whether you suffer from chronic pain, were diagnosed with a condition, or sustained an injury, we’ll form a dedicated team with you to create a proven treatment plan that is catered exactly to you to help find meaningful pain relief. Our practice focuses on you, the client, and achieving positive, pain-free outcomes. If you want to get back to dominating corners on the football field, or just want to stand up and sit down without pain, get in touch with us us online or find the nearest location for you.

Joint pain is debilitating for many Union, MO residents. In the United States, approximately one in four adults suffer from joint pain. While it can be severely inhibiting, meaningful relief is attainable. It’s a good idea to see a doctor before deciding on physical therapy. While no remedy is 100% successful for 100% of patients, physical therapy has shown widespread success for patients with joint pain. Contact Axes for safe, effective, and tailored treatment in Union, MO.

Understanding Joint Pain | Union, MO Physical Therapy

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

1. Synarthrosis joints are immovable, meaning they connect bones but cannot move, for example the bones in your cranium.
2. Amphiarthrosis joints are slightly moveable, for example the distal joint between the two shin bones.
3. Diarthrosis joints, also called synovial joints, make most of the movements our bodies make possible. Examples are your wrist knee. There are six types of diarthrosis joints:
   1. Pivot, which permits rotary movement around a single axis
   2. Plane or gliding, which allows 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 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 bridged by 360 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 on the ends of the bones. It allows for smooth movement and cushions the bone against each other.
• 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 when bones glide over each other.
• Ligaments — Ligaments are bands of firm connective tissue that connect bone to bone, hold them in place, 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 and elastic tissue that attaches muscle to bone.
• Bursae — These are fluid-filled sacs between bones and surrounding tissues that act as a cushion 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 some part of the innerworkings of your joint are damaged and cannot function as intended Your brain wants you to know it needs attention. Proven physical therapy in Union, MO is often the best way to treat joint pain.

Common Causes of Joint Pain | Union, MO Physical Therapy

There are several conditions that can cause crippling joint pain. Those conditions can range in severity; some are not entirely curable but meaningful relief is possible. Other times joints can be made healthy in a matter of weeks. All of them, however, require a sound treatment plan and the care of a knowledgeable physical and occupational therapist in Union, MO like those at Axes. The most common causes of joint pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella term that includes several different diagnoses. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and occurs when the cartilage that acts as a shock absorber at the ends of your bones degenerates. It typically occurs with old age, repeated trauma, or overuse.

Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune conditions that attack the healthy tissues in your body.

While we have yet to find a a cure for arthritis, improved mobility and reduced pain can be achieved with safe and practical physical therapy by enhancing 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 Union, MO physical therapists at Axes will form a team with you and your physician to come up with a comprehensive treatment plan with the objective of getting you back to the things you enjoy.

Bursitis

Bursitis causes joint pain when the bursae become inflamed and cannot cushion the joint as well. It can be caused by overuse, injury, repeated motions, or, uncommonly, infection. The majority of bursitis cases involve the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee. Safe physical therapy treatments along with patient education can go a long way in preventing future trauma and rebuild strength and flexibility in the surrounding muscles. With the right treatment, bursitis can go away within a month.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis can be a joint pain culprit when the tendons around the joint become inflamed or damaged. It is caused by tasks involving repetitive motions such as in manual labor. It can also occur 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 becomes torn, you may need surgery.

Sprains and Tears

Sprains occur when a ligament is stretched or torn due to falling, landing awkwardly, or direct trauma to the area. Tears transpire when a ligament, tendon, or muscle is ripped. While you may be able to recover from a sprain in a few weeks, tears typically require many months to recover from. Tears such as rotator cuff tears and ACL tears can cause immense pain and profoundly impact your ability to perform basic tasks.

If joint pain is affecting your daily life, consider one of our free injury screenings with one of our joint pain specialists in Union, MO. If what’s causing your joint pain requires surgery, come to us for your pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation plan.

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

All of our Union, MO patients are unique, so your particular treatment plan will be based on the underlying conditions and level 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 your physical therapy, we’ll show you exercises you can perform at home safely, so you can continue to find long-term pain relief and go on to enjoy optimal range of motion.

While it may seem natural to avoid movements that cause joint pain, immobility will only aggravate your pain in the end. At Axes, our Union, 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 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 Union, MO:

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

Take a look at the links below to see what other services we offer in Union, 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 Union, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

While joint pain, and any kind of pain, is a physical hardship, it can also affect us emotionally by keeping us away from the things we enjoy. At Axes PT, every one of our professional Union, 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. Everything we do has been proven to be effective. If you’ve been waiting to move on from your joint pain in Union, MO, contact Axes today or call the most convenient location for you.