The number of people aged 55 and older who experience chronic pain increased 70% from 1998 to 2022, according to research published in the journal Social Science & Medicine. When this pain is in your joints, everyday activities like walking and doing housework can become more difficult. You may even avoid certain movements because they hurt. Figuring out what’s behind your joint pain is the first step to finding ways to ease it.
Common Joint Pain Causes
“Injuries are perhaps the most common cause of joint pain,” says Robert A. Hayden, DC, PhD, FICC, an American Chiropractic Association (ACA) member in Griffin, Georgia. Strains, sprains, and repetitive use injuries can sometimes be subtle, but may damage the joint or its surrounding tissues.
“Sometimes when a joint is moved past its point of maximum allowable motion, these tissues can be injured,” Dr. Hayden explains. “Muscles may go into spasms or tear. Tendons and ligaments can be sprained or stretched beyond their tolerance.” These can all lead to pain during joint movement.
Arthritis is another common cause of joint pain, says Dr. Hayden. There are many types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the form that refers to “wear and tear” over time, and rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune response that can lead to joint deformity and pain. The skin condition psoriasis is another autoimmune disorder that can attack the joints.
Sitting for Long Periods Can Be Problematic, Too
If you have a sedentary job or tend to sit for long periods, this may also be behind the pain and discomfort in your joints. Dr. Hayden does Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals and says it’s common to see drivers who’ve spent years on the road with low back pain because their body weight is concentrated on the lower part of the spine. Office workers can experience pain for the same reasons.
“Human bodies are not made for long periods of sitting,” Dr. Hayden says. “Bodies are made to move, and lack of movement concentrates stress points in particular places.” That’s why activities as simple as walking are so important. This helps keep stress from building on single joints.
The bottom line is that joint pain doesn’t always come from a problem within the joint itself. The way you move, how long you remain in one position, and injuries to the muscles, tendons, or ligaments surrounding a joint can all contribute to discomfort.
How Can You Ease Joint Pain?
Regular movement can be an important part of maintaining healthy joints. “Many people find relief from back pain by walking regularly,” says Dr. Hayden. This works by engaging the muscles you use to keep your body upright.
Some of Dr. Hayden’s patients have found benefits from other activities, such as yoga and Pilates. Swimming is another option that’s easy on the joints because it is non-weight-bearing. “Motion is your friend,” Dr. Hayden says.
Find an activity you enjoy and do it often. That said, if movement constantly causes pain, it’s worth finding out why rather than simply trying to push through it. This is where a chiropractor can help.
The Role of Chiropractic in Managing Joint Pain
A chiropractic evaluation can help identify factors that may be contributing to your joint pain. This starts with collecting your history and conducting a physical exam. Together, these can provide “a very good picture of the problem,” says Dr. Hayden, adding that imaging may be required “to complete the puzzle.”
Depending on the issues found, the chiropractor can make a diagnosis and work with the patient to decide how to proceed. A treatment plan is then created based on what science says is the best approach for the issues found, the patient’s desires, and what the doctor has seen work in his or her practice. “This is what we call evidence-based practice,” explains Dr. Hayden.
Chiropractors may also be able to help with joint pain that comes from soft tissue issues or arthritis. They have access to a variety of therapies, including ultrasound, acoustic shockwave, lasers, electrotherapy, and more. These can help facilitate pain relief and healing.
When to Make an Evaluation Your Next Step
If your joint pain is persistent, getting worse, limiting your daily activities, or making it difficult to move normally, consider talking with a qualified health professional about what may be causing it.
Dr. Hayden calls chiropractic “the first line of defense with joint pain,” and there is good reason why. A study involving 770,326 people with neck pain discovered that when a chiropractor was consulted first, they received fewer and less costly imaging procedures. They were also less likely to have invasive therapies (like surgery) during follow-up.
Making an appointment with a provider in your area can bring you one step closer to identifying what’s behind your pain, obtaining an accurate diagnosis, and developing an effective treatment plan. “You and your chiropractor will be a team dedicated to restoring full function to you as soon as possible,” says Dr. Hayden.
Written by Christina DeBusk, a contributor to Hands Down Better.
Reviewed by the ACA Editorial Advisory Board. This information is for educational purposes. It is not a replacement for treatment or consultation with a healthcare professional. If you have specific questions, contact your doctor of chiropractic. To find an ACA chiropractor near you, click here.
