Joint stiffness may be caused by long-term braking or by joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
1. Prolonged braking: Joint stiffness occurs when the muscles, ligaments, and joint capsules around the joints contract or become adherent to the tissues because the lesions cannot be moved or the pain prevents them from moving. It is recommended that during the period of braking, appropriate muscle contraction exercises and activities of neighboring joints should be carried out under the guidance of the doctor, and muscle atrophy and joint adhesion can also be prevented through massage, hot compresses and other physiotherapy methods.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis: This disease produces granulation tissue rich in blood vessels to destroy the articular cartilage, causing the upper and lower joint surfaces to fuse with each other, resulting in joint stiffness. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as meloxicam and celecoxib can be used to relieve inflammation and pain, and heat therapy and warm water baths can be used as supplementary treatment.
3. Ankylosing spondylitis: it is a chronic progressive inflammation of the spine, and in the advanced stage, it can calcify and ossify the soft tissues around the entire spine and large joints of the limbs, resulting in stiffness of the joints, and the symptom of hunchback deformity can appear. Pain can be relieved by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, and spinal exercises can be performed to prevent joint stiffness and spinal deformity.
Other causes of joint stiffness include osteoarthritis, septic arthritis, and tuberculosis. If joint stiffness occurs, it is recommended to go to the hospital for a prompt examination to clarify the cause of the disease so as not to worsen the condition. Medications should be used under medical supervision.