Why Am I Getting Joint Aches?
Joints are places in the body where bones meet and can move relative to one another, such as the knees, ankles and elbows. A variety of underlying health conditions and physical stresses on the body can lead to joint aches.
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Function
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Joints are places where bones are joined with tough tissues called ligaments that are flexible, allowing the body to move and bend.
Causes
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Joint aches are often caused by an inflammation of the tissue around the joint due to trauma or repetitive use; a breakdown of the connective tissues in joints due to conditions like arthritis increase the chances of joint aches.
Risk Factors
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Certain risk factors increase the changes of joint aches including age, weight and physical-activity level; athletes may have problems with joint aches due to training too hard.
Treatment
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The proper treatment for joint pain will depend on the exact cause, which should be diagnosed by a doctor. Aches caused by physical activity will often clear upon resting the affected joint and avoiding activity for a few weeks.
Prevention
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It may be possible to prevent joint aches in some cases by wearing properly fitting shoes, using supportive equipment such as braces and doing physical-therapy exercises to strengthen the muscles and tendons surrounding joints.
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