Hey doc, is my pain just muscle or is it in the joint?

Here is the deal...you can injure a muscle, a tendon, a ligament, a disc, or a joint. You can have a combination of these structures injured; most often, it is a combination of factors that contribute to symptoms. In this article we will go over the healing time and process of the soft tissue and connective tissue in your body. 

Muscle strains

Mild muscle strain typically heals within a few days, while a more severe strain may take a month or two.  Muscles have excellent blood supply and heal relatively rapidly.  

Ligaments

Ligaments have less blood supply so healing takes longer. It takes most ligament injuries (sprains) between 6 weeks and 3 months to repair and it often takes over a year for symptoms of ligament injury to completely resolve.

Fractures

Fractures (broken bones) typically take between 6-8 weeks to mend and then rehabilitation is often required to bring the surrounding muscles back to pre-injury condition.

So what about the joints?

Most of the joints in our body have a joint capsule surrounding it with synovial fluid inside that helps to lubricate and provide smooth motion. The joint capsules and the outer layers of the discs that are found between vertebrae are basically ligaments; and, like other ligaments often take some time to heal completely when injured. 

Sprain/ Strains

When we have a strain or sprain, there is pain and muscle tension in the area, as well as inflammation. With inflammation comes a fibrotic process; basically, a scar tissue building process that preferentially binds to collagen. Ligaments, joint capsules and fascia are all made of collagen bundles; so, when inflammation is present, there is a scar tissue building process that happens in and around the joints. Without motion, the inflammatory process starts laying down scar tissue within 20-30 minutes. This process occurs whether awake or asleep, which is why people may go to bed feeling ok and wake wondering what happened through the night that created so much discomfort.

When a muscle is strained, initially, symptoms may be completely associated with muscle. With injury, there will be tightened muscles. These tight muscles pull on bones causing asymmetry in joints (misalignment) and then the local inflammation that is present lays down scar tissue on the capsules surrounding the joints and we get joints that are misaligned, not only due to muscle tension but also become fixed in misalignment due to adhesions that are formed through the inflammatory process. While we may experience muscle tension without any joint restriction, there is rarely joint restriction or misalignment without some muscle tension.  Furthermore, without frequent and healthy motion and gentle stretching following injury, rarely does muscle tension and associated inflammation not lead to some restriction in joint motion.

How can Chiropractic Care Help?

The chiropractic adjustment is the most effective means to resolve restriction to joint motion and promote health alignment. Spinal manipulation is also associated with improved circulation which helps remove inflammation, and improved neurological conduction which reduces muscle spasms and pain. Once there is healthy alignment and the joints of the body are moving appropriately, movement, stretching and strengthening are the keys to healing and continued health.

Your doctors at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic are excellent at helping restore alignment and joint motion with safe, gentle and effective techniques and provide stretches and exercises to help you on your path to health.  Contact Gallatin Valley Chiropractic today for a consultation, guidance, an exam, treatment and/or a second opinion for any of your health care needs.

406-551-2177

Gallatinvalleychiropractic.com