Joint Pain: what it is and how we help

Joint pain at a glance

Joint pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek treatment. It can come from the joint surfaces, the tendons and ligaments around a joint, or inflammation inside it. Most joint pain is mechanical and improves with movement and strengthening, but pain with swelling, heat or long morning stiffness needs medical assessment to rule out inflammatory arthritis.

Symptoms of joint pain

• Aching or sharp pain in the knees, hips, hands, shoulders or back
• Stiffness after rest or first thing in the morning
• Swelling, warmth or reduced movement
• Clicking, grinding or a feeling of instability

What causes joint pain?

The most common causes are osteoarthritis, tendon and ligament overload, injury, bursitis and gout. Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis are less common but important to catch early. Excess weight, weak muscles and inactivity increase load on joints.

How is joint pain treated?

Mechanical joint pain responds best to exercise, strengthening, weight management and pacing. Inflammatory arthritis needs a rheumatologist and medication, with physiotherapy alongside.

How we help in Chiswick

• Physiotherapy: diagnosis and a strengthening programme for the affected joints.
• Red light therapy: NovoTHOR for whole-body aches and THOR laser for individual joints.
• Acupuncture: an adjunct for pain relief in some joint conditions.
• Tai chi: gentle, joint-friendly movement for strength and balance.
• Blood tests: inflammation markers, uric acid and vitamin D.

Why are my joints aching all over?

Aches in many joints can follow a viral illness, unusually heavy exercise or poor sleep, and often settle within days to weeks. Persistent widespread aches may be linked to osteoarthritis in several joints, fibromyalgia, low vitamin D, an underactive thyroid, the menopause or, less commonly, inflammatory arthritis. Swelling, long morning stiffness or feeling unwell alongside the aches needs a GP review.

Can the weather affect joint pain?

Many people report more joint pain in cold, damp weather or before changes in air pressure. Research gives mixed results, but stiffness genuinely tends to feel worse when people are colder and less active. Keeping warm and staying active through the winter helps.

Does diet affect joint pain?

No single food cures joint pain, but eating patterns can help. A Mediterranean-style diet with oily fish, vegetables, olive oil, nuts and wholegrains supports a healthy weight and lower inflammation, and losing excess weight reduces load on the knees and hips. For gout, cutting beer, sugary drinks and red meat lowers uric acid.

What to expect at Omnia

Your first appointment covers which joints hurt, how long stiffness lasts, any swelling and your activity and goals. Your physiotherapist examines the joints and how you move, and we arrange blood tests if inflammation, gout or a deficiency needs ruling out. You leave with a starting exercise plan and advice on pacing, with red light therapy, tai chi or acupuncture added for comfort where helpful.

What you can do at home

• Keep moving every day; stiffness improves with gentle activity
• Strengthen the muscles around the painful joint
• Use heat for stiffness and ice for flares
• Try an Ayurvedic, joint-friendly way of eating in our Vata diet plan

For step-by-step home programmes, see our guides to knee pain exercises, hip bursitis exercises and outer thigh pain.

If you are wondering whether it could be arthritis, see what arthritis feels like and the 4 stages of osteoarthritis.

Blood tests that can help

Blood tests can look for inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Our Rheumatology Check (£79) is a good first step. See our guides to blood tests for joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis blood tests and blood tests for gout. Blood tests are taken at our Chiswick clinic, with no GP referral, and you receive a clear results report, with a GP review available at an additional cost if you would like one. See every blood test and price.

Related: arthritis and knee pain. Omnia Lifestyle, Chiswick W4, two minutes from Turnham Green. Book online or call 020 4515 0000.