Joint and Muscle Imbalances
What are Joint and Muscle Imbalances?
Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or multiple joints. There are multiple types of joint and muscle imbalances that can affect the body.
Some imbalances can cause the protective cartilage inside the joint breaks down. This makes the movement of affected joints more difficult and painful. In time, bones of the joint may rub directly against one another, causing severe pain. Pain can also come from parts of your joint other than the cartilage, such as bone, synovium, and ligaments. 2
People who have joint imbalances often state that their joints are stiff and hard to move and have a decreased range of motion. The area around the joints tend to be swollen and some severe cases, discolored due to severe swelling of the area.
These imbalances settle in the joints that are commonly overused, such as elbows, wrists, fingers, knees, hips, back shoulders, and neck. Some people find it hard to get dressed, open jars or do daily activities when they have joint and muscle flare -ups.
Some muscle and joint imbalances can cause an autoimmune response in which the body’s immune system – which normally protects its health by attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses – mistakenly attacks the joints. This creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (the synovium) to thicken, resulting in swelling and pain in and around the joints. The synovium makes a fluid that lubricates joints and helps them move smoothly. 3
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Resources: 1 “Arthritis: Causes, Signs, and Diagnosis ….” 14 Aug. 2017, https://www.healthline.com/health/arthritis.
2 “Sources of Arthritis Pain | Pain Management & Understanding ….” https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/pain-management/understanding/types-of-pain.php.
3 “What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? – Arthritis Foundation.” https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/what-is-rheumatoid-arthritis.php.