Joint Pain
Joints are the space between bones that allow for proper movement and function. Our body has many different types of joints, from those that barely move at all (e.g., the sutures in your skull) to synovial joints that move in many different directions (e.g., shoulder joints, ankle joints, hip joints, etc.). When the joints move properly, your muscles and ligaments function at an optimal level. This affords you proper function and no pain. When the joints don’t move properly, however, the function of your muscles and ligaments is adversely impacted. This is an ideal time to call to set up an appointment with a chiropractor.
Joint Pain Arthralgia (Greek for joint pain) is discomfort that occurs in a location where two bones meet. Pain can occur in joints anywhere in the body, including the hands, back, knees, neck and shoulders. There are many common causes of joint pain, ranging from injury (e.g., broken bones, dislocations and muscle sprains and strains) to arthritis (e.g., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, etc.) to infectious and inflammatory diseases (e.g., autoimmune disease, bursitis, and tendonitis).
Improperly Working Joints When joints do not work properly, it can lead to a variety of problems. Primarily, when the joints do not work properly, the muscles and ligaments cannot function properly either. They will tend to either shorten or elongate, depending on the joint problem. When this occurs, they will leak chemical messengers that will irritate local tissues and nerves. This leads to further pain and dysfunction. It turns out to be a vicious cycle until the underlying joint problem is addressed.
Factors Affecting Joint Function The causes of joint problems fall under one of three main categories: mechanical, chemical, and/or mental. Macro trauma (big trauma) such as a car crash or bad fall and micro trauma (repetitive-use injury) are both mechanical factors that inhibit joint function. An example of a chemical factor would be making dietary choices that are inflammatory, which increases the likelihood that your joints will swell more easily and become susceptible to additional injuries. Mental factors become more apparent when people are under stress. Many times they will get headaches, back pain, neck pain, stomach pain, etc. Stress affects the hormones and chemicals in your body and can create an environment where healthy joint function is hard to maintain.
Chiropractors help primarily with the mechanical causes of joint pain and dysfunction; however, we are trained to deal with certain chemical and mental influences as well. Rather than a temporary solution with medication, or risky surgery, chiropractic treatment is the primary treatment that addresses the underlying cause of joint dysfunction. Normal ranges of motion are restored and inflammation reduced, allowing for soft tissue reactions to heal. After a thorough examination, occasionally, the chiropractor will find that this patient would be better served by another medical professional. If this is the case, East End Chiropractic will let you know promptly and will refer you to a professional that can provide you with the necessary treatment.
What Exactly Is Chiropractic Care?
Restoring Mobility of the Spine
Chiropractic care mainly addresses the spine and relieves problems caused by dysfunctions of the spine. Your spine essentially serves two purposes: 1) it supports the weight of your body, allowing a great variety of movement, and 2) it encloses/protects the spinal cord, which connects your brain to the rest of your body. The spine contains 24 vertebral segments which connect to each other via a system of joints and are held together by muscles and ligaments.
Keeping your spine healthy means maintaining its full range of motion, without discomfort.
Problems arise when a joint in the spine becomes “stuck” and stops moving in its full range of motion. The lack of mobility leads to inflammation and swelling in the region surrounding the joint, along with muscle spasms and pain. It can also lead to symptoms which may not seem related to your spine (tension headaches, tingling or numbness in extremities, pain in knees/elbows, etc). Many things can cause a joint to get “stuck” such as a slip, fall, or even day-to-day routine activities. A spinal joint that is not working properly will require other joints to compensate, leading to altered motion patterns of the spine. Prolonged abnormal alignment of the spine can lead to permanent changes in the spinal structure which is why it is important to address spinal issues quickly.
A chiropractor focuses on restoring the full range of motion to a stuck joint utilizing precise and shallow adjustment of the spine. In most cases, the doctor will only use their hands to administer these adjustments. Often, when people complain of back and joint pain, they will say “something is out of place,” or “a bone in my back is dislocated.” Most often, this is not the case. Rather than being “out of place,” the joint is typically locked somewhere within its normal range of motion. The adjustments a chiropractor makes are done with the goal of restoring the normal motion of that joint.
Once the normal range of motion is reestablished, a person is able to move in a more comfortable manner. Other joints no longer have to compensate for the poorly moving joint. Pain, muscle spasm, and inflammation (the body’s most important defenses against dysfunctional joint movement) are no longer needed, and will dissipate.
See How We Can Help for more information on what types of treatment we offer at our office.
Have any questions about chiropractic care? Give us a call at 615-650-6533 or email us at info@eastendchiro.com.
