Do your joints feel immobile and stiff in the morning? Does it take a while before you can move them again without restriction? Does the joint stiffness bother you throughout the day? Are you wondering where your symptoms are coming from and what treatment methods are available? You can find information & specialists here.
Stiff joints are common for people with advanced age. Like mechanical objects, muscles, bones and joints seem to "rust" over time . The result is increasing difficulty in performing everyday movements. Experts speak of joint stiffness when patients can only move the affected joint partially or not at all.
In the case of morning stiffness, joint stiffness mainly occurs in the early hours of the morning directly after getting up. Morning stiffness often occurs in conjunction with inflammatory arthritis.
Those affected have the feeling that their joints are as heavy as a plaster cast.
The degree of symptoms and the course of the disease vary depending on the cause and clinical picture. This also applies to the location of the symptoms. In principle, any joint, such as fingers, knees and elbows, can become stiff.
Acute joint stiffness is often caused by an accident. Joint diseases such as arthritis, on the other hand, usually have a chronic course.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the joints become inflamed. They ache, become stiff and lose strength @ Evrymmnt /AdobeStock
In order to initiate the appropriate therapeutic measures, doctors must determine the cause of the joint stiffness. The doctor obtains an initial orientation by talking directly to the patient.
The focus is on the following questions:
Doctors differentiate between sudden symptoms and slowly progressing joint stiffness.
Inflammation, paralysis and scarring are also possible causes.
Doctors differentiate between contracture and ankylosis in the case of joint stiffness.
Ankylosis describes serious joint damage. Bones, joint capsules and joint surfaces are affected.
Potential causes of this form of complete joint stiffness include
Contracture is a shortening of muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin or connective tissue. This variant is easier to treat as the joint itself is not damaged.
People who suffer from joint diseases (inflammatory or degenerative), nerve paralysis or joint injuries are particularly susceptible to joint stiffness.
You can take the following preventative measures: A healthy and active lifestyle (regular exercise) is the foundation for strong bones and joints. You should avoid one-sided and extreme strain. On the other hand, a balanced diet rich in vital substances has a positive effect on your joints.
Exercise and sport help to keep joints flexible @ Justlight /AdobeStock
As already mentioned, an initial indication of the symptoms and potential causes can be obtained by talking directly to those affected.
Do the symptoms occur in the morning and subside again within 60 minutes? Then inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis) is the cause.
This is a disease that is accompanied by painful inflammation of the foot and wrist joints. It is characterized by severe swelling of the affected regions. In severe cases, the respective joints are completely destroyed. Rheumatoid factors can be determined with the help of blood samples, ultrasound and X-ray examinations.
A detailed examination of joints and muscles helps to further narrow down and determine the diagnosis. Muscle cramps and muscle stiffness often occur in connection with a stroke or spinal cord disease. They are accompanied by symptoms such as weakness and pain, which in turn promote the development of stiff joints.
If you suffer from the symptoms described here, you should consult your family doctor. They know your medical history. During the initial consultation, they will be able to clarify what type of joint stiffness you have.
If it is a rheumatic disease, for example, doctors often use cortisone and painkillers for acute flare-ups. As part of long-term therapy, additional methods(special diet, gentle exercise) make sense.
Depending on the cause identified, a different specialist will be responsible for you: If you have an underlying rheumatic disease, a rheumatologist is the right person for you.
If an accident is the cause of the joint stiffness, then orthopaedists and trauma surgeons are your first port of call.
There are joint and bone specialists in all medical fields who are very familiar with the potential causes.
Due to the numerous triggers for stiff joints, it is difficult to make general statements about the course and chances of treatment.
What is generally true, however, is that a healthy lifestyle and diet are the best basis for a speedy recovery. Acute symptoms can be alleviated by simple measures such as hot showers and gentle stretching exercises.
Breusch, S., Clarius, M., Mau, H., Sabo, D. (Hrsg.): Klinikleitfaden Orthopädie, Unfallchirurgie. Urban & Fischer, München 2013.
Mader, F. H. et al.: Allgemeinmedizin und Praxis. Springer Medizin Verlag, Heidelberg 2007.
Wülker, N., Kluba, T., Roetman, B., Rudert, M.: Taschenlehrbuch Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie. Thieme, Stuttgart 2015.
Patienteninformationsportal des Berufsverbandes für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie e.V. (BVOU) unter https://orthinform.de/lexikon (abgerufen am 4. 12. 2021).
The Leading Medicine Guide's quality assurance is ensured by the following acceptance prerequisites.
