How to Test Joint Function & What the Results Mean

There are an estimated 250 to 350 joints in the human body, and this varies per person. With this number of joints and variation in type, it is no surprise that various joint issues may arise. Joint issues are typically mechanical or degenerative resulting from natural wear and tear or overuse. Joint problems can also develop from trauma or injury or as a result of chronic inflammation.

Joint health and function can naturally deteriorate with age. A lifetime of moving combined with underlying joint issues can take its toll on the cartilage in your joints. The deterioration of cartilage causes bones to rub together as joints move and this leads to pain and increased risk of debilitating joint problems. It is important to test joint function to identify these issues and initiate the proper treatment before symptoms worsen.

Why Do I Need to Test Joint Function?

As you age, joint function naturally deteriorates which can increase pain and restrict mobility. Without early evaluation, diagnosis, and initiation of a treatment program, joints can further deteriorate, leading to increased inflammation, pain and more serious complications including disability. Through evaluation of joint function, you can avoid complications such as:

• Joint narrowing as a result of total cartilage breakdown
• Loss of stability as tendons and ligaments deteriorate
• Bone spurs
• Stress fractures
• Pinched nerves in your neck, back and extremities

Outside of natural wear and tear, there are certain factors that contribute to poor joint health. Individuals with these risk factors should get regular joint screening to ensure they identify potential problems or deterioration early. With an early diagnosis, more efficient treatment plans can be developed to resolve your current symptoms and prevent more serious complications. Risk factors for joint degeneration include:

• Age: Cartilage is a natural shock absorber and as it deteriorates with age, the synovial membrane that keeps your joints healthy may thicken. This can lead to extra fluid accumulation in the joint, which will cause swelling and discomfort.
• Weight: Obesity and being overweight puts additional stress on your joints and the soft tissue surrounding them. This can accelerate deterioration.
• Inactivity: Not getting regular exercise weakens bones and muscles. It also reduces flexibility which increases the instability of joints.
• Trauma: Previous injury or trauma to a joint or surrounding muscle, ligament, or tendon can increase the risk of joint degeneration, stiffness, and pain.
• Medications: Certain medications such as statins, antibiotics, and medications used to treat brittle bones, can also cause joint pain that will reduce mobility.
• Family history: Genetics plays a role in the increased risk of certain joint conditions such as osteoarthritis.
• Immune function: Autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, increase inflammation in the joints which causes swelling, pain, stiffness, and impaired mobility.
• Muscle wasting: Muscle loss in the areas surrounding a joint may affect joint stability and increase the risk of degeneration and falls.

Symptoms of Poor Joint Health

If you have symptoms that suggest joint deterioration, evaluating joint function is important. The symptoms of joint degeneration can vary in onset and severity. There are general symptoms your doctor will look for that can be indicative of reduced joint function.

The symptoms of common joint conditions may include

• Joint pain that increases with weight-bearing
• Tenderness in joint area
• Joint swelling
• Joint stiffness
• Reduced range of motion
• Limping
• Locking of the joint
• Redness and warmth around the joint
• Weakness or numbness

These symptoms can indicate the presence of a joint disease and the need for prompt evaluation. Early identification of joint issues is recommended for the most effective treatment outcomes.

Joint Function Tests and Results

Symptoms such as joint stiffness, swelling, pain, or immobility will be cause for your doctor to first conduct a physical exam of the affected joint(s). This involves inspection of the joint while stationary and moving. Range of motion testing is important to identify the cause and severity of issues that cause immobility.

Joint function tests can be done with a goniometer that tests joint angles and measures the degree of movement with different exercises. The two most common types of range of motion testing are:

• Active range of motion, which involves movement that is performed entirely by the individual without outside force helping.
• Passive range of motion, which involves movement via an outside source while the joint is relaxed.

Through joint function testing, your doctor can also determine if any damage has been done to the joint, the surrounding soft tissues, or the tendons and ligaments.

Further testing may be done should your doctor feel that any joint abnormalities have developed. These tests may include imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, and ultrasounds. Nerve tests may be performed to identify nerves that may have been compressed by joint swelling or narrowing.

Specific blood may also be used to identify joint diseases and more severe damage:

• Rheumatoid Factor (RF): RF tests look for specific proteins produced by the immune system to identify autoimmune responses that may trigger joint swelling and discomfort.
• CCP Antibody: Similar to RF, this test may identify specific antibodies in the blood that indicate an abnormal immune system response targeting the joints with chronic inflammation.
• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP): An elevated ESR or CRP may be associated with joint stiffness and swelling, potentially suggestive of an autoimmune disorder.
• Antinuclear Antibody (ANA): The presence of antinuclear antibodies in the blood can indicate that an autoimmune response is causing joint discomfort.

Proper testing and early identification of joint dysfunction will provide the best opportunities for effective treatment and prevention of chronic issues. The presence of joint discomfort and reduced mobility can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, but with early identification, symptoms can be effectively alleviated through treatment.

Treatment Options for Joint Health

Most medical treatments are designed to alleviate discomfort and symptoms of joint degeneration. Minor joint discomfort can often be treated with ice therapy which reduces swelling or heat therapy to relax the surrounding muscles. Medications, such as oral or topical analgesics may also be prescribed for pain and swelling.

Other treatment options may include:

• Physical therapy: A carefully designed program can help improve muscle strength so better support and stabilize a weakened joint. Other specialized treatment techniques can also alleviate joint discomfort.
• Injections: Corticosteroids can be injected directly into the affected joint to help reduce pain and swelling. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are also performed for damaged tendons and ligaments through the use of the individual’s platelets which stimulate the body’s ability to heal.
• Bracing: Compression around the joint using assistive devices such as braces can help alleviate pain and help improve mobility.
• Biological response modifiers: These medications directly target the aberrant inflammatory immune system responses and that contribute to joint pain.

Surgery is an option, but only when more conservative treatment methods have proven to be ineffective. Depending on the severity of joint damage, your doctor can recommend any of the following surgical procedures to improve joint function.

• Arthroscopic surgery allows your doctor to repair cartilage and ligaments through small incisions.
• Joint resurfacing to replace part of the joint.
• Fusion of two bones together in joints using pins, rods, or plates.
• Total joint replacement to remove a severely damaged joint which will be replaced with an implant that mimics a real joint’s movement and function.

Natural Treatment For Better Joint Function

Joint pain and immobility can also be treated naturally with clinically studied supplements. Certain natural ingredients have been identified that support joint function and may help slow the progression of joint deterioration. 1MD physician formulated supplements like MoveMD®️, contain scientifically proven ingredients that work to support proper joint function.

• AprèsFlex® Boswellia serrata alleviates joint pain and promotes better joint function and mobility by interfering with the inflammatory processes that cause the breakdown of cartilage known to trigger joint swelling and pain.Zanthin®​ Natural Astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant that has been clinically proven to outperform glucosamine and chondroitin, helps alleviate joint discomfort, protects cartilage integrity, and promotes proper joint function.
• Both type X.I.V. eggshell membrane collagen and Type II chicken collagen combine to protect cartilage tissue as well as increase range of joint motion and mobility.
• Hyaluronic acid helps promote joint mobility and flexibility by reducing pain through the restoration of synovial joint fluid.

CurcuminMD® Plus contains the new Longvida®️ Optimized Curcumin formula, which has an absorption rate 285 times more efficient than other types of curcumin. This high potency antioxidant also protects both tissues and joints from inflammation while the highly bioavailable form of standardized 65% Boswellia serrata helps prevent cartilage loss to promote overall joint health.

KrillMD™ features K·REAL® Pure Krill Oil, which provides potent omega-3 fatty acids and is more effective than fish oil as a result of the krill phospholipids which facilitate efficient absorption . KrillMD™ also contains astaxanthin, another potent antioxidant that helps reduce free radical damage to support healthy joint function.

Final Thoughts

Your natural shock absorbers, the cartilage in your joints, gradually wears down and this can negatively impact your mobility, flexibility, and quality of life. Some joint diseases can be very debilitating, but with the right approach, you can maintain healthy joint function.

Healthy lifestyle choices, such as a balanced diet and regular exercise and supplemental support you can better care for your aging joints. MoveMD®️, a revolutionary joint health formula, directly targets joint function from the inside with clinically proven ingredients to boost joint health, alleviate joint pain, and promote joint mobility.

Joint function can deteriorate over time, which makes it crucial to get regular testing to identify potential joint diseases before they become chronic and debilitating. With prompt diagnosis, healthy living, and 1MD’s natural joint health supplements, you can promote joint health and mobility to make sure you are always moving in the right direction.