Joint Pain

Joint pain can come from acutely injured tissues and joints or develop after performing repetitive motions. If joint pain affects your mobility or reduces your quality of life, visit Mohamed Hablas, DPT, and the experienced team at Outreach Manual Physical Therapy PC in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach neighborhood. They use noninvasive treatments to reduce joint pain and help you move better. Call the New York City office to schedule a consultation or book a joint pain evaluation online today.

What causes joint pain?

Acute injuries, overuse, and chronic disease can all cause joint pain. Conditions that commonly affect the joints include:

• Sprained ankles
• Carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist
• Dislocations and fractures
• Tendinitis (tendon inflammation)
• Bursitis (inflamed fluid-filled sacs in the joints)
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and other knee sprains
• Rotator cuff tears
• Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
• Sacroiliitis (inflamed sacral joints)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most frequent reason people have long-term joint pain and disability. It develops when years of joint use erode the articular cartilage, a tough, slippery substance covering your bone ends. The exposed bones rub together, roughen, and produce friction. Inflammation, pain, weakness, and stiffness follow.

Joint surgery will also likely cause pain. You might undergo a cartilage, tendon, or ligament repair/reconstruction, fracture repair, or, for severe arthritis, joint replacement surgery. These major operations involve considerable tissue damage even with modern minimally invasive methods.

Outreach Manual Physical Therapy PC uses physical therapy to optimize post-surgery recovery.

What problems does joint pain cause?

Joint pain causes mobility challenges and makes daily activities difficult. People with knee and hip problems might struggle to get out of bed or walk. Shoulder pain can make brushing your hair painful and, in severe cases, impossible. Joint pain in the hands affects your ability to grip or use a keyboard.

If you’re usually physically active, being unable to play sports or do your job properly can be frustrating. Limited activity and pain can lead to mental health problems like depression.

Can physical therapy reduce joint pain?

Physical therapy is a safe, reliable way to reduce joint pain. It helps improve mobility and prevents incurable joint conditions from worsening. It also stops your muscles, tendons, and ligaments from weakening and shortening, which can happen when you wear a cast or brace to immobilize a limb.

In addition, physical therapy improves blood circulation. This ensures that the injured joint receives plenty of oxygen, healing cells like growth factors, and nutrients for optimal healing.

What physical therapies help with joint pain?

Treatments that could feature in your joint pain physical therapy plan include the following:

• Stretching and strengthening exercises
• Joint mobilization
• Heat and ice
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• Electrotherapy
• Thermotherapy (heat therapy)
• Laser therapy
• Kinesiology taping
• Assistive and adaptive devices
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)

Joint pain treatment varies depending on your condition, age, other health concerns, and rehabilitation goals.

Call Outreach Manual Physical Therapy PC today or book an appointment online to discover the benefits of physical therapy for joint pain.