Joint instability can cause joints to shift or dislocate, leading to injury. Causes include congenital or genetic conditions, soft tissue disorders, and degenerative diseases. Treatment options include physical therapy, medication, supplements, and surgery. Seeking medical attention is recommended to prevent serious injury.
Joint instability is a lack of support in the joints, which puts a person at risk of the joints shifting or dislocating, causing injury. People can develop instability in a number of ways. Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the condition, the joints involved, and the cause. Seeking a doctor for joint instability is recommended, as it can put people at risk of serious injury.
Stability for joints is provided by the joint capsule that surrounds each joint, the ligaments, nearby muscles, and surrounding bones. These systems work together to provide full articulation to the body’s joints, allowing them to bend and flex. Individual joints are designed differently to meet needs, such as rotation or bending.
When instability develops, one or more of the systems that normally stabilize a joint malfunction. The joint can be prone to displacement, which means it is pushed out of place. It can also be subject to dislocation, disarticulated altogether. Both of these experiences can be very painful and can also lead to tears in the muscles and ligaments. People with instability in key joints can suffer injuries, such as falls, due to an inability to maintain balance safely.
Sometimes, joint instability is caused by congenital or genetic conditions. Soft tissue disorders may be a cause, as can disorders involving bone. It can also be acquired through degenerative diseases that attack the joints and surrounding tissue. As joint function declines, patients may develop chronic pain and other joints may be affected as well.
Medical imaging studies can be used to examine a joint to determine the source of the instability. Treatments may include physical therapy to strengthen joints, medications to address pain and inflammation, supplements to rebuild joint tissue, and in some cases surgery. Surgery can be used to implant an artificial joint or to correct problems within the joint that lead to instability.
An orthopedic doctor is usually the first stop for a person with joint instability. Orthopedic physicians are familiar with the musculoskeletal system and can provide appropriate diagnosis and treatment options. A genetic specialist may also be consulted if a genetic condition is thought to be involved. People with a family history of joint disease may want to discuss this with their doctor, as this could be an important diagnostic clue as to why a patient has developed joint instability.
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