Joint Stiffness Treatment in The Woodlands

Joint stiffness is a sensation of reluctance or difficulty when moving a joint. The joint resists movement or movement range is limited. Joint stiffness limits the range of motion, negatively affecting daily activities like walking or lifting items.

Thankfully, you can get chiropractic and physical rehabilitation joint stiffness treatment at Core Health Spine & Rehabilitation of The Woodlands. Read on to find out how we help alleviate joint stiffness symptoms.

Why Stiff Joints Occur

There are several causes of joint stiffness. If you sleep in the wrong posture or use inappropriate pillows, you’ll wake up with a stiff neck.

The condition is more common in those well-advanced in age. The body slowly disintegrates with age. Joints gradually wear out, resulting in stiffness and inflammation.

Obesity is another common cause of joint stiffness, especially in the knees and ankles. The ligaments and cartilage can only bear a specific amount of weight. Anything above that, you get joint problems. Therefore, dieting is a form of joint stiffness treatment.

Other reasons why you may have stiff joints include:

• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis from “wear and tear”
• Wrong diet
• Trauma from accidents

Common Conditions That Cause Joint Stiffness

Sometimes, joint stiffness signifies the presence of a particular health condition or disease. Arthritis, bursitis, and lupus are some of these common conditions. At Core Health Spine & Rehabilitation, we offer excellent joint treatment in the Woodlands.

Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the two forms of this painful condition. The former is an auto-immune inflammatory disorder. Therefore, the body attacks the healthy parts, including the joints. Signs and symptoms include pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

Cartilage erosion causes osteoarthritis. It is the wearing out of the soft tissue separating the thigh and shin bones. Other than stiffness, you can experience:

• Swelling
• Cracking sounds when using the joint
• Pain

Bursitis

This is the inflammation of the bursae. Bursae are little sacs filled with fluids that cushion muscles, bones, and ligaments in the joints. Stiffness is a major symptom of this rare condition. Bursitis affects most large joints like the shoulder, elbow, and hip.

Unlike other conditions in this list, bursitis is temporary. In most cases, you don't need joint stiffness treatment. A several-week rest will do the trick. Avoiding joint use for some time and reducing physical activity resolves the problem.

Gout

Gout is like arthritis but much more complex and painful. Crystallization of uric acid is the leading cause of this condition. Uric acid forms solid crystals inside the joint, which feels like someone injected sand inside your knees and ankles.

Signs and symptoms of gout include:

• Tenderness
• Redness
• Extreme pain

Causes of gout include:

• Excessive intake of alcohol
• Defective kidneys
• Hereditary factors
• Diabetes
• Obesity

Please note that the condition occurs suddenly and unannounced, mostly at night. The spell gradually wears out. These attacks are more common after consuming foods high in uric acids, such as red meat.

Gout is a lifelong condition. 

How a Chiropractor Can Help Treat Joint Stiffness

At Core Health Spine & Rehabilitation, we provide professional chiropractic and physical rehabilitation joint stiffness treatment in The Woodlands. In case you’re suffering from stiff joints caused by arthritis, bursitis, and gout, we are here to help.

Chiropractic medicine focuses on the spine and joint adjustments and mobilization techniques to ease pressure and alleviate some of the symptoms. You have to tell us your health history. If you have an underlying medical condition, we will work with your doctor.

Contrary to popular belief, modern chiropractors incorporate technology in the diagnosis. Our doctors use the latest imaging and diagnostics like X-rays, MRI, CT scans, and electromyography (EMG).

Stiff joint treatment involves a combination of hand movements and machine treatments. Treatment methods we use include:

• Therapeutic exercises and stretching
• Heat/cold therapy
• Ultrasound for pain relief
• Electrical muscle stimulation to reduce swelling
• Joint mobilization to improve movement range

Contact Core Health Spine & Rehab for Stiff Joint Treatment

Joint stiffness is when you experience difficulty moving the joint due to an underlying condition. Stiff joints are a common symptom of arthritis, bursitis, and gout. At Core Health Spine & Rehabilitation, we offer professional chiropractic treatment for stiff joints in addition to Physical Rehabilitation & Pain Management.

We provide advanced chiropractic adjustments and spinal correction using the latest chiropractic technology, procedures, and techniques. You can trust Donald Thigpen, DC, and Caitlin Timmons, DC, RN, BSN, as the best in the industry. Call 281-364-2673 now to book an appointment!