Joint pain is a rather large topic. Joint pain for us, is pain in a joint anywhere that isn’t the spine. Hips, knees, elbows, wrists, shoulders and ankles. Of all the joints affected, knee pain is the most common with 1/3 or adults reporting to have had an episode of knee pain in the last 30 days. Knee pain was followed by shoulder pain and hip pain. Joint pain can be irritating and debilitating if not dealt with properly.
Causes of Joint Pain
Joint pain is most commonly caused by accidents, falls, tight muscles, or improper movement patterns that stress a joint beyond its normal limitations. We have found that often the problem is not the joint itself, but what is taking place around the joint, or with muscles that attach to the joint. For example, sometimes knees begin to hurt because of what is taking place in the quadriceps muscles just above the knees.
How Do We Treat Joint Pain?
In order to effectively treat joint pain, we need to find out the true cause so that we can address that cause rather than trying to suppress symptoms. We do this by taking a thorough history of when and how the pain began. We will assess the range of motion of the joint, as well as the muscles and bones that make up the joint. In some cases, it may be a good idea to have X-rays or an MRI conducted. Most cases of joint pain we see do not require imaging like that. Once we have a clear answer of what factor(s) are causing the pain, we treat with:
