The Anatomy of a Joint: How Joints Work and Why They Hurt

Without the structure and movement our joints provide, our bodies would have no movement and flexibility. Joints are why we can participate in everyday activities, from walking and running to typing and bending. However, when joints become painful or stiff, they can significantly impact our quality of life. Understanding the anatomy of a joint, how joints work, and why they sometimes hurt is the best way to maintain joint health the right way. With the right lifestyle and tools like Juvent’s Micro-Impact Platform, you’ll be able to improve joint health, reduce pain, and decrease stiffness.

The Anatomy of a Joint

A joint is where two or more bones meet and allow movement. The human body contains several types of joints, each with a specific structure and function. Most joints have several components or tissues in them. While the bones are a rigid structure, most joints also have a smooth, rubbery tissue called cartilage that covers the ends of bones, which reduces friction and acts as a cushion. There is also a lining inside the joint capsule called the synovial membrane that produces synovial fluid, which lubricates the joint and nourishes the cartilage. Ligaments in or around the joint are strong bands of connective tissue that stabilize and limit certain movements to prevent injury. Tendons are fibrous connective tissue that attach muscles to bones, allowing for joint movement when muscles contract.

There are a wide range of joint types depending on how the ends of the bones are shaped and what kind of movement the joint takes part in. From extremely mobile ball-in-socket joints like the hip to planar joints like the bones in the foot that have minimal movement, our body moves in all kinds of ways.

What Is the Function of the Joint in Anatomy?

Joints serve several essential functions in the body, but the one we think of most is movement. Joints allow for a wide range of motion, enabling activities such as bending, twisting, lifting, and walking. Our joints also provide structural support by holding the skeleton together while allowing movement, as seen in less mobile joints. Some joints, like those in the spine, help protect the spinal cord and other vital structures by absorbing shock and distributing forces.

How Do Joints Work?

Joints work through a coordinated effort between the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. When a muscle contracts in response to a nerve signal from the brain, the muscle pulls on the tendon, which in turn moves the bone at the joint. The cartilage ensures smooth movement by reducing friction, while the synovial fluid lubricates the joint. Ligaments provide stability by keeping the bones in proper alignment, preventing excessive movement that could lead to injury.

Why Do My Joints Hurt?

Joint pain can arise from various factors, including injury, inflammation, and degenerative conditions. Joint pain has several common origins: 

• Osteoarthritis: This is a degenerative condition where the cartilage breaks down, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): An autoimmune disorder, RA causes inflammation in the joint lining, leading to pain, swelling, and joint damage.
• Bursitis: Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints, and they can cause pain and stiffness when they’re irritated.
• Tendinitis: Inflammation of the tendons around a joint, often due to overuse or repetitive movements, that can lead to pain and swelling.
• Injuries: Sprains, strains, and fractures can damage the structures within a joint, resulting in pain and limited movement.

Making Joint Health Your Priority

Joint pain happens to everyone at some point, but there are ways to set your body up for success, whether you’re trying to manage or prevent it. The key is finding a way that is gentle on the joints, can easily be incorporated into your daily routine, and won’t have side effects.

With Juvent’s Micro-Impact Platform, just 20 minutes each day is all you need to make your joints healthy, mobile, and happy. The Micro-Impact Platform is an innovative tool designed to improve joint health and alleviate discomfort. Through gentle, precise micro-impact forces, which stimulate the natural repair processes in bones and joints, you’re able to reduce pain, stiffness, and swelling, making it an excellent option for those suffering from joint issues. Instead of medications or injections that have potential adverse effects, the platform avoids the toxicities, side effects, and costs of other interventions with the convenience of use for the whole family.

Our platform has patented technology that creates vibrations tuned to your body’s frequencies so you reduce joint pain by promoting circulation and reducing inflammation. The gentle micro-impacts, which are kept in safe ranges that generic whole body vibration platforms exceed, help keep joints lubricated and flexible, reducing stiffness, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity. Regular use of the platform can enhance joint flexibility and range of motion, making daily activities easier.

Joints are complex structures that enable movement and provide support throughout the body. When they become painful or stiff, it can significantly affect your quality of life. Knowing about joint anatomy and why joints hurt offers you a path toward keeping your body limber and comfortable. With technological advancements like the Juvent Micro-Impact Platform, you’ll improve joint health, reduce pain, and enhance mobility. Whether you’re dealing with chronic joint pain or simply looking to maintain healthy joints, Juvent’s platform is the best addition to your wellness routine.

FDA Disclosure

In the US, the Juvent device is considered investigational for the treatment of osteoporosis or improvement/maintenance of bone mineral density and our claims have not been reviewed or cleared by the FDA to treat any disease or condition. Calculated over the 20+ year expected life of a Juvent. The JUVENT® Micro-Impact Platform® is Registered as a Class I medical device for exercise and rehabilitation. JUVENT products are covered by the following issued patents, pending patents and their foreign equivalents: 6,843,776 6,884,2277,094211 7,207,954 7,207,955 7,985,191 8,114,036 11/369,611 11/486,538. Juvent, Dynamic Motion Therapy, Micro-Impact Platform, and the symbol are Registered trademarks of Regenerative Technologies Corporation.