From a painful fall to everyday overuse and strain, bone and joint injuries can happen to anyone. While some injuries are minor, other more serious issues can cause deep pain, limit your mobility and interfere with your ability to complete daily tasks. Here’s what you need to know about common bone and joint injuries.

Stress Fractures

Stress fractures are tiny cracks in bones that can form if you increase the length or intensity of your activity too quickly. Stress fractures may occur when muscles become overtired and transfer stress to your bones. You may also experience a stress fracture if you change the surface you regularly run or walk on, such as switching from a dirt path to an asphalt street.

Prevention is key, so make sure you buy supportive shoes with good cushioning when starting a new workout routine. Cross training with low impact activities can help reduce your risk for stress fractures. Keep your bones strong by including calcium and vitamin D in your diet.

Tendonitis

A tendon is a thick, fibrous cord that connects muscles to bones, allowing a joint to move. When a tendon becomes inflamed from overuse, injury or infection, the condition is called tendonitis.

Tendonitis can take four to six weeks to heal. You can treat it with rest, using ice or heat and anti-inflammatory medicine. Sometimes a splint or brace can help as well. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience these symptoms:

• Redness over the painful area
• More pain or swelling at the joint
• Fever or chills

Bursitis

A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that protects and lubricates the joints in our bodies. We have about 150 bursae in our body, and they have the important job of helping our bones, tendons, muscles and ligaments move.

Overuse and injury can make bursae susceptible to inflammation. This is called bursitis. Activities like intense exercise, sports and even housework can cause inflammation in the bursae, leading to pain and limited movement in the affected joint.

To help prevent damage, use good form when playing sports and exercising. Listen to your body and stop activity when you start to feel pain in a joint. Take frequent breaks to reduce the likelihood of inflammation.

Treatments for bursitis include resting the joint, using ice or heat on the affected area, elevating the injury and taking over-the-counter ibuprofen or naproxen. If your pain is severe, doesn’t go away or interferes with daily activities, it is time to have a healthcare provider check the injury. They may prescribe stronger naproxen medicine, or recommend a cortisone shot.

Looking for a Primary Care Provider?

Aultman Medical Group Primary Care has many providers ready to take care of you and your family. Many of our offices are accepting new patients – and more than likely, we have a location in your community.

Visit aultman.org/NewDoc to find a provider in your area who is accepting new patients, or call the new patient hotline at 330-433-1264 for assistance with scheduling your appointment.

Source: The Staywell Company, LLC