What are the different types of joints?
Your body’s joints are classified into five different types, depending on the motion hey support.
Hinge joints
A hinge joint works much the same way as the hinges on a door, allowing back and forth movement. Your elbows and knees are hinge joints. This joint is easily injured when a lateral force pushes it past the normal range.
Ball-and-socket joints
These joints offer the greatest range of movement and allow forward, backward, and side-to-side motion. Your shoulders and hips are ball-and-socket joints. These joints make running, throwing a ball, and hugging loved ones possible.
Pivot joints
These joints allow for rotating movement. Your neck contains a pivot joint, which allows your head to turn from side-to-side.
Ellipsoidal joints
These joints allow bending but only limited rotation. Ellipsoidal joints link many of the bones in your hands and feet.
Gliding joints
Gliding joints allow the flat surfaces of two bones to glide past each other in different directions. Gliding joints join the carpal bones in your wrist.
Saddle joints
A saddle joint is one in which an upper bone is situated in a curved portion of a lower bone. In the human body, the only saddle joint is at the base of your thumb and is what allows you to grasp and hold objects.
What are the causes of joint pain?
Interconnected bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, membranes, and fluids comprise each joint. When anything negatively impacts one of these components, it results in joint pain.
Some common causes of joint pain include:
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Strains and sprains
- Tendinitis
- Diseases, such as leukemia, Lyme disease, lupus, and certain cancers
What are the treatment options for joint pain?
The first step in addressing joint pain is a thorough physical examination to determine the pain’s source. Once your doctor has identified the cause, they create a customized treatment plan.
Some common treatment options include:
- Pain medication
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Topical creams or ointments
- Physical therapy
- Rest, icing, compression, elevation
- Certain supplements
Very often, your doctor uses a combination of these treatment approaches to help you find joint pain relief. If you’re experiencing stiff, sore, or swollen joints, call Apex Medical Center to begin a path toward pain relief and improved function.
