Today we take a look at human anatomy, highlighting the joints. After all, joints have a very important function. They make sure we can move. From walking to moving your arms. They are an important part of our musculoskeletal system. But what exactly is the function of joints within our body? What kind of joint disorders are there and how can they be remedied?
What is the function of your joints?
Joints consist of two or more bones that connect with each other, allowing a movement to be made. In most joints, the ends have cartilage. This protects the bones and helps make sliding movements. Around each joint is the joint capsule that contains synovium. Synovium is a fluid whose function is to ensure that the joints' movements are smooth. In addition, the bone structures in a joint are held together by ligaments (ligaments). Ligaments are made of connective tissue and are also part of the joint capsule.
Different types of joints
There are many different types of joints in our body. Since not every joint can make the same movement, these are divided into different categories.
synovial joints
Most joints are mobile, these are called synovial joints. These ensure that we can move properly. Among these types of joints, you can think of the shoulder joint, elbow joint, wrist joint, hip joint, knee joint and ankle joint.
ball joints
Ball joints consist of a ball and a bowl. These are joints that can rotate in all directions. A good example is the shoulder, which you can rotate in all directions. You sometimes also hear about the shoulder dislocating. In this injury, the head (upper part of the upper arm bone) is no longer in the socket (lower part of the shoulder blade). Recovery from this injury can take four to six weeks.
hinge joint
Like the hinge of a door, a hinge joint can only bend up and down. This kind of joint is in your elbow and knee.
rolling joint
As the name suggests, this joint allows the bones to 'roll' around each other. The rolling joint allows your ulna and radius to rotate around each other, which in turn allows your hands to rotate.
saddle joint
This joint is between the thumb and the root of the hand, for example. The bone parts form a saddle. Thanks to the convex and concave curvature, movement on two planes is possible.
What are joints for?
The joint is a very important but therefore versatile and complicated part of our body. It allows us to move smoothly. Muscles also play an important role when it comes to our joints. They hold the joint capsule and ligaments together and are connected to our bones through tendons. Joint pain occurs when making a wrong movement, overuse or damage to the joint.
What is joint pain?
From research has shown that more than 68% of the global population experiences joint pain. As a result, it has a negative impact on daily life. Joint pain can occur anywhere in the body in the form of stuck joints, tenderness and swelling. In addition, joint pain can be distinguished as chronic and non-chronic.
Non-chronic joint pain
Some examples of non-chronic joint pain are torn ligaments, dislocation (dislocated arm or leg). A sprain is also a form of non-chronic joint pain. The ligaments are overstretched or sprained, so the bone no longer sits normally in the joint and is swollen.
Chronic joint pain
There are also a number of forms of chronic joint pain. These include rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. These two forms are caused by inflammation in the joints. Osteoarthritis can occur in all ages, but is most common in the elderly because this group uses their joints too little. In athletes and overweight people, the joints are overused. The most common joint pain is knee pain. For example, think of a knee strain or sprain due to sports.
joint blockade
Do you suffer from fatigue, a general deterioration in health or cannot move smoothly? Then you might be suffering from a joint blockage. There is no need to raise the alarm at first, but it is always useful to pay attention to this. After all, you may have been suffering from a blockage for years and not know it. With a blockage, the joint capsule gets stuck between the two bones. This can happen due to overuse of the joints or incorrect movement. The space between the two bones is reduced, causing a blockage.
arthritis
Changes in cartilage loosen cartilage particles that become inflamed. This causes the synovial membrane to swell and produce fluid. As a result, the joint becomes warm and causes pain. Joint inflammation often occurs when someone with osteoarthritis has sprained, twisting the joint.
How does joint pain occur?
Performing everyday movements puts constant pressure on the joints, putting them at risk of damage. As indicated above, the knee is the most common culprit when it comes to joint pain. This is because the knee catches the most body weight and is therefore especially vulnerable to damage and pain. Playing sports? Then you are even more likely to damage the knee. Landing puts body weight harder on the knee. There is also a risk of joint pain during accidents. Due to a trauma moment, the ligaments may not be able to handle the forces and tear as a result.
What can you do yourself for joint pain?
Keeping moving and resting well not only improves your general fitness, but also your heart, lungs and joints. For instance, it is more important for your overall health to move 30 minutes a day than an hour three times a week. For each joint disorder, it should be examined which movements are and which are not justified. If you have a lot of hip or knee pain, for example, you should not walk a lot of stairs, but keep bending and stretching the joint. Our physiotherapists can help you with this
Experiencing joint pain? Please contact FriskFysio
Joint pain can affect your daily life in a negative way. Are you experiencing joint pain? Call 085-5000333 For an appointment, send an e-mail to info@friskfysio.nl or fill in the contact form on our website. We will contact you as soon as possible.
