Muscle & Joint Physical Therapy

Joint Disorders

Joint pain is discomfort or pain in any part of where two or more bones meet to form a joint including cartilage and bone within the joint or ligaments, tendons, muscles and bursae surrounding the joint. It is usually caused by damage resulting from normal wear and tear.

Common conditions that cause joint pain include:

• Arthritis (Arthralgia) - Osteoarthritis (OA), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
• Muscle Strain - over-stretching or tearing of a muscle
• Tendon Strain - over-stretching or tearing of a tendon (tissue connecting muscle to bone)
• Sprains - over-stretching or tearing of a ligament (band of tissues that connect two bones)
• Fibromyalgia - an autoimmune disorder causing widespread muscle pain and tenderness
• Bursitis - inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that protect the joint

If you are suffering with any of the above-mentioned signs or symptoms in your joints, chances are, our physical therapists can help.

Most joint pain can be treated non-surgically with low-impact activities, ice packs, over-the-counter pain medications and physical therapy. However, you should see a physician if you have these symptoms:

• Pain accompanied by redness or swelling
• Warmth around the joint
• Normal, everyday activities are painful or becoming more difficult to do

The following symptoms are serious and require immediate medical attention:

• Intense pain
• Joint deformity
• Sudden swelling
• Unable to move the joint
• A fever of 102°F (39°C) or higher

Muscle Disorders (Myopathy)

Your body contains more than 600 muscles. They are made up of special cells called muscle fibers. Muscles contract and move the other parts of the body, maintain posture and body position, move substances inside the body and generate body heat.

There are three types of muscle that help your body work and move:

1. Cardiac Muscle (Heart muscles)
2. Smooth Muscles (Visceral internal organ muscles that are sometimes also called involuntary muscles)
3. Skeletal Muscles (About 700 striated muscles that attach to the bones skeletal system)

Muscle disorders are known as myopathies. The main symptom is muscle weakness and fatigue due to dysfunction (abnormality) of muscle fiber. Muscle disorders can also cause a variety of other symptoms including pain, muscle cramps, stiffness, spasms and even paralysis.

The most common causes of muscle disorders include sprains or strains, cramps or tendinitis. They can also be caused by genetic disorders (e.g., Muscular Dystrophy), some cancers, inflammation (e.g., myositis), nerve diseases, infections, certain medications and exposure to hazardous materials.