Joints are movable connections between the ends of two bones. There are 360 joints in the human body. Joints are lined with cartilage which cushions and enables the joint to move smoothly and easily. Most joints contain synovial fluid which acts as a lubricant and also allows for smooth movement. Joints come in many different shapes and sizes for example the hip and shoulder joints are ball and socket joints while the knee and elbow joints are hinge joints.
What can go wrong?
Cartilage damage or 'wear and tear' - as we age the cartilage lining our joints wears out and can become frayed or fragmented
Ligament sprains - ligaments hold our joints together and can be sprained for example by twisting your ankle
Dislocations - shoulder dislocations are the most common joint to dislocate
What can cause joint problems?
Joint pain can be caused by a number of different factors ranging from age, lifestyle, injury and infections. Common causes of joint pain include:
Osteoarthritis – 'wear and tear' of our joints as we age, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis causing pain and stiffness
Inflammation – usually injury related such as an ankle sprain
Gout – a type of arthritis causing pain and inflammation due to a build up of uric acid crystals within the joint
Haemarthrosis – bleeding within the joint due to an injury or trauma
Specialist treatment and prevention of joint problems
At The Medical, we most frequently treat the following:
Knee
Shoulder
Hip
Foot and ankle
Elbow
We specialise in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of joint problems:
Treatment - manual therapy, such as joint manipulation, massage, acupuncture and therapeutic ultrasound carried out by physiotherapists, chiropractors or osteopaths
Strength and conditioning- Pilates and rehabilitation where you're taught exercises to strengthen your muscles and improve the mobility and stability of your joints to help prevent re-injury
