Joint Stiffness – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Joint stiffness is the feeling that the joints move with difficulty and do not reach their usual range, most often in the morning or after long inactivity. It has several possible causes, and in many people mobility improves with physiotherapy and suitable exercise.
What joint stiffness is
Joint stiffness is a feeling of tightness and limited movement in one or more joints. It may show up as difficulty with the first movements in the morning, after sitting for long, or after a joint has been left unused. Sometimes it comes with pain and sometimes it does not.
The causes vary: from simple lack of movement and tight muscles around the joint, through old injuries and wear of the cartilage, to inflammatory joint conditions. Short morning stiffness that passes quickly once you get moving is more common with mechanical problems, while prolonged stiffness together with swelling and warmth needs a medical assessment.
In many people mobility can improve with regular movement, stretching, strengthening and therapy. How much it improves depends on the cause, which is why a thorough assessment is useful.
What contributes
- prolonged inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle
- tight and shortened muscles around the joint
- wear of the joint cartilage (osteoarthritis)
- after-effects of injury, casting or surgery
- inflammatory joint conditions
- cold weather and insufficient warm-up before activity
How it shows up
- difficult first movements in the morning or after sitting
- reduced range of movement
- a feeling of the joint “catching” or tightness
- pain when trying to move fully
- improvement once you start moving
- reduced flexibility in daily activities
How we can help
We start with a thorough assessment to find whether the restriction comes from the joint itself, the muscles or the surrounding tissues. We use manual therapy and mobilisation to improve movement, therapeutic massage, therapeutic exercise for flexibility and strength, and where needed TECAR, laser, magnet or electrotherapy to ease pain. If further tests are needed, we will refer you to a specialist.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if stiffness lasts longer than about 30 minutes in the morning, affects several joints at once, or comes with swelling, redness, warmth in the joint or fever. Seek help also for a sudden inability to move the joint, deformity after a fall or blow, or rapid worsening.
This page is for information only and does not replace an assessment by a specialist.