Top of the pageLearning Center
Bones, Joints, and Muscles
Learn about bone, joint, and muscle health
It's not uncommon to have aches and pains in our bones, joints, and muscles. They may be caused by everyday wear and tear, overuse, or aging. Or they may be a result of injury or illness. Sometimes it can be hard to figure out exactly what's causing a muscle ache or joint pain. For example, sore muscles and aches could be the result of a hard workout routine, or they could be a sign of a more serious problem such as chronic pain or arthritis. It's important to know what is affecting you so you can treat it correctly.
Find out about your bone, joint, and muscle symptoms with topics such as:
- Acetaminophen
- Achilles Tendon Injury: Physical Therapy and Rehab
- Achilles Tendon Problems
- Achilles Tendon Tear
- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Age-Related Foot Changes
- Anabolic Steroids
- Ankle Sprain
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Surgery
- Arm Injuries
- Arm Problems, Noninjury
- Arthritis: Shots for Knee Pain
- Arthroplasty for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Arthroscopy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Arthroscopy for Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs)
- Aspirin for Pain, Fever, and Inflammation
- Assistive Devices and Orthotics
- Assistive Devices for People With Disabilities
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Avulsion Fracture
- Back Pain in Children and Teenagers
- Back Problems and Injuries
- Back School for Low Back Pain
- Bacterial Infections of the Spine
- Baker's Cyst
- Bev's Story: Coping With Arthritis
- Bone Spur
- Botulinum (Botox) Injection for Low Back Pain
- Brace (Orthotic) Treatment for Scoliosis
- Broken Collarbone
- Broken Nose (Nasal Fracture)
- Broken Rib
- Broken Toe
- Bruxism and Temporomandibular Disorders
- Bunion Surgery
- Bunions
- Bursitis
- Calcium Deposits and Tendinitis (Calcific Tendinitis)
- Calf Muscle Injury
- Capsaicin
- Capsaicin for Osteoarthritis
- Caregiving: How to Turn Someone in Bed
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Safe Posture and Movements
- Cast Care Tips
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cervical Disc Herniation
- Cervical Spinal Fusion
- Cervical Spinal Stenosis
- Cervical Spondylosis
- Chiropractic
- Chronic Myofascial Pain
- Chronic Pain
- Chronic Pain Syndrome
- Classification of Spinal Cord Injuries
- Clubfoot
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pain Management
- Comparing Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
- Complementary Medicine for Arthritis
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- Complications of Osteoarthritis
- Complications of Paget's Disease
- Congenital Torticollis
- Coping With Osteoarthritis
- Cosmetic Surgery and Procedures
- Craniosynostosis
- Crohn's Disease: Problems Outside the Digestive Tract
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Debridement for Rotator Cuff Disorders
- Decompressive Laminectomy for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Dengue Fever
- Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
- Diet and Gout
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discectomy for a Lumbar Herniated Disc
- Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
- Dupuytren's Disease
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Bursitis and Tendon Injury: Preventing Pain
- Elbow Injuries
- Elbow Pain: Other Causes of Pain
- Elbow Problems, Noninjury
- Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Pain
- Emergency Care for an Accidental Amputation
- Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Surgery
- Exercise and Fibromyalgia
- Exercise and Osteoarthritis
- Exercise for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Exercising to Prevent a Stroke
- Exercising While Sitting Down
- Expert: Be Active to Help Your Back Heal
- Face-Lift (Rhytidectomy)
- Facial Injuries
- Facial Problems, Noninjury
- Fibromyalgia
- Fibromyalgia: Managing Fibro Fog
- Finding Good Footwear
- Finger, Hand, and Wrist Injuries
- Finger, Hand, and Wrist Problems, Noninjury
- First Aid for a Spinal Injury
- Fitness Machines
- Flatfoot (Pes Planus)
- Frozen Shoulder
- Ganglions
- Getting Support When You Have Low Back Pain
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin
- Golfer's Elbow
- Good Posture for a Healthy Back
- Gout
- Groin Pain
- Groin Problems and Injuries
- Growing Pains
- Hammer, Claw, and Mallet Toes
- Hamstring Muscles
- Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger
- Head Injury, Age 4 and Older
- Healthy Habits to Prevent Osteoporosis
- Healthy Muscles
- Heat After an Injury
- Heel Bursitis or Tendon Injury: Preventing Pain
- Hip Bursitis or Tendon Injury: Preventing Pain
- Hip Fracture
- Hip Fracture Repair (Hip Pinning)
- Hip Fractures: What Increases Your Risk
- Hip Injuries, Age 11 and Younger
- Hip Injuries, Age 12 and Older
- Hip Problems, Age 11 and Younger
- Hip Problems, Age 12 and Older
- Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty
- Ice Massage
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Improving Sleep When You Have Chronic Pain
- Inguinal Hernia
- Inguinal Hernia: Surgery in Adults
- Injury to the Tailbone (Coccyx)
- Interactive Tool: Should I Consider Surgery for My Low Back Problem?
- Interactive Tools
- Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET) for Low Back Pain
- Jack's Story: Will I Need Surgery?
- Jaw Problems: Changing Your Diet
- Jaw Problems: Exercise and Relaxation
- Joint Replacement: Realistic Expectations
- Jones Fracture
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Deciding About Total Joint Replacement
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Inflammatory Eye Disease
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Pain Management
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Range-of-Motion Exercises
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Stretching and Strengthening Exercises
- Knee Bursitis and Tendon Injury: Preventing Pain
- Knee Problems and Injuries
- Knee Replacement Surgery
- Kneecap Dislocation
- Kyphoplasty
- Lab Tests for Fibromyalgia
- Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury
- Leg Amputation
- Leg Cramps During Pregnancy
- Leg Injuries
- Leg Problems, Noninjury
- Little Leaguer's Elbow (Medial Apophysitis)
- Living With More Than One Health Problem
- Log Roll Method for Safe Movement
- Lorna's Story: There's No Fast Cure
- Low Back Pain
- Low Back Pain: Easing Back Into Your Daily Activities
- Low Bone Density
- Lumbar Herniated Disc
- Lumbar Spinal Fusion (Arthrodesis)
- Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
- Lumbar Spondylosis
- Lyme Disease
- Male Osteoporosis
- Massage Therapy
- Massage Therapy During Pregnancy
- Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury
- Medicines for Bone Loss
- Medicines That Can Cause Weakness or Fatigue
- Medicines That May Cause Arm or Leg Problems
- Meniscectomy for a Meniscus Tear
- Meniscus Repair
- Meniscus Surgery: Recovery Time
- Meniscus Tear
- Misdiagnosis of Lyme Disease
- Mitochondrial Diseases
- Mobility Problems: Getting In and Out of a Car Safely
- Modifying Activities for Osteoarthritis
- Monitoring During Anesthesia
- Morton's Neuroma
- Moving From Sitting to Standing
- Mucous Cyst Ganglions
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Multiple Sclerosis Progression
- Multiple Sclerosis: Benefits of Exercise
- Multiple Sclerosis: Bladder Problems
- Multiple Sclerosis: Mental and Emotional Problems
- Multiple Sclerosis: Modifying Your Home
- Multiple Sclerosis: Questions About What to Expect
- Muscle Cramps
- Muscle Relaxants During Surgery
- Neck Pain
- Neck Problems and Injuries
- Necrotizing Fasciitis (Flesh-Eating Bacteria)
- Needle Aponeurotomy for Dupuytren's Disease
- Neisseria Meningitidis
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
- Nose Injuries
- Nursemaid's Elbow
- Office Ergonomics
- Open Carpal Tunnel Surgery
- Open Inguinal Hernia Repair (Herniorrhaphy, Hernioplasty)
- Open-Joint Arthroplasty for Temporomandibular Disorders
- Opioids
- Orthopedic Surgery for Cerebral Palsy
- Orthotics for Foot Problems
- Osgood-Schlatter Disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis: Heat and Cold Therapy
- Osteochondritis Dissecans of a Joint
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoporosis Risk Factors
- Osteoporosis Risk in Younger Women
- Osteoporosis Screening
- Osteotomy for Osteoarthritis
- Overtraining
- Overuse Injuries
- Paget's Disease of Bone
- Pain Control Diary
- Pain Diary
- Pain Management
- Pain Management Clinic
- Pain Relief for Fibromyalgia
- Pain: Getting Help at Home
- Paraffin Wax for Arthritis
- Parkinson-Plus Syndromes
- Parkinson's Disease
- Parkinson's Disease and Sexual Problems
- Parkinson's Disease and Speech Problems
- Parkinson's Disease: Eating and Drooling Problems
- Parkinson's Disease: Modifying Your Activities and Your Home
- Parkinson's Disease: Movement Problems From Levodopa
- Parkinson's Disease: Other Symptoms
- Partial Hip Replacement Surgery
- Patellar Subluxation
- Patellar Tracking Disorder
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- Patty's Story: Using Positive Thinking to Help Back Pain
- Percutaneous Discectomy for a Lumbar Herniated Disc
- Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
- Phalangeal Head Resection (Arthroplasty) for Toe Joint Deformities
- Phantom Limb Pain and Chronic Pain
- Physical Activity as You Get Older
- Physical Rehabilitation for ACL Injuries
- Physical Therapy
- Physical Therapy for Back Pain
- Physical Therapy for Knee Arthritis
- Physical Therapy for Spinal Stenosis
- Physical Therapy for Temporomandibular Disorders
- Plantar Fascia Release
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Plantar Fasciitis: Resuming Your Training
- Plica in the Knee
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Positional Plagiocephaly (Flattened Head)
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury
- Postoperative Problems
- Post-Polio Syndrome
- Pregnancy: Changes in Feet and Ankles
- Pregnancy: Hand Changes
- Pregnancy: Pelvic and Hip Pain
- Pressure Injuries From Scuba Diving
- Preventing ACL Injuries
- Preventing Falls in Older Adults
- Preventing Foot Cramps
- Preventing Foot Problems: Training Techniques
- Preventing Tetanus Infections
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation
- Prolotherapy for Low Back Pain
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Quick Tips: Exercising Safely With Arthritis
- Quick Tips: Modifying Your Home and Work Area When You Have Arthritis
- Quick Tips: Using Backpacks Safely
- Ravi's Story: Coping With Back Pain and Depression
- Referred Shoulder Pain
- Rehabilitation Programs for Multiple Sclerosis
- Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE)
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Restless Legs Syndrome: What Conditions Can Cause It?
- Returning to Work With Low Back Pain
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Classification Criteria
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Finger and Hand Surgeries
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Neck Symptoms
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Systemic Symptoms
- Robert's Story: Getting and Staying Active
- Roomy Shoes
- Rotator Cuff Disorders
- Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery
- Rotator Cuff Tendon Impingement
- Scaphoid Fracture of the Wrist
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis in Adults
- Scoliosis in Children and Teens
- Scoliosis: Wearing a Brace
- Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
- Self-Massage
- Severity of Back Injuries
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder and Neck Massage
- Shoulder Bursitis and Tendon Injury: Preventing Pain
- Shoulder Problems and Injuries
- Shoulder Replacement Surgery
- Shoulder Separation
- Shoulder SLAP Tear
- Sickle Cell Crisis
- Sickle Cell Disease: Aplastic Crisis
- Sickle Cell Disease: Pain Management
- Sickle Cell Disease: Preventing Problems and Staying Healthy
- Sjögren's Syndrome
- Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
- Small Joint Surgery for Osteoarthritis
- Spasticity
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Cord Injury: Safe Transfers To or From a Wheelchair
- Spinal Curves in Scoliosis
- Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis
- Spinal Manipulation
- Splint Care Tips
- Splinting
- Spondyloarthropathies
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis
- Sports Hernia
- Stages of Lyme Disease
- Steroid-Induced Osteoporosis
- Steve's Story: Coping With Arthritis
- Stopping Facial Bleeding
- Stress and Back Pain
- Stroke: Preventing Injury in Affected Limbs
- Subacromial Smoothing and Acromioplasty for Rotator Cuff Disorders
- Surgery for an Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Surgery for Tennis Elbow
- Symptoms of Lyme Disease
- Synovectomy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
- Temporomandibular Disorders: Dental Splints
- Temporomandibular Disorders: Having Good Body Mechanics
- Temporomandibular Disorders: Treating Trigger Points
- Temporomandibular Disorders: Ways to Ease Pain
- Tendon Injury (Tendinopathy)
- Tennis Elbow
- Tetanus
- Toe, Foot, and Ankle Injuries
- Toe, Foot, and Ankle Problems, Noninjury
- Total Hip Replacement Surgery
- Trapped Finger, Toe, or Limb
- Treatment for ACL Injuries in Children and Teens
- Trochanteric Bursitis
- Types of Chest Injuries
- Types of Multiple Sclerosis
- Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome
- Upper and Middle Back Pain
- Use Heat or Ice to Relieve Low Back Pain
- Using a Cane
- Using a Walker
- Using Cold and Heat Therapies
- Using Crutches
- Using Ice and Cold Packs
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vertebroplasty
- Water Exercise
- Weakness and Fatigue
- Weight-Bearing Exercises to Maintain Healthy Bones
- Whiplash
- Worried About Using Opioids?
- Wrist Splint for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Wrist Tendon Injury: Preventing Pain
- Alkaline Phosphatase Test
- Arthrogram (Joint X-Ray)
- Arthroscopy
- Bone Biopsy
- Bone Density
- Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy
- Bone Scan
- Calcium (Ca) in Blood Test
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Body
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Head and Face
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Spine
- Creatine Kinase Test
- Electromyogram (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies
- Extremity X-Ray
- Facial X-Ray
- Gallium Scan
- Joint Fluid Analysis
- Lyme Disease Test
- Magnesium (Mg) Test
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Knee
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Shoulder
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Spine
- Nuclear Medicine Scan
- Phosphate in Blood Test
- Phosphate in Urine Test
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
- Skull X-Ray
- Spinal X-Ray
- Vitamin D Test
- Achilles Tendon Rupture: Should I Have Surgery?
- ACL Injury: Should I Have Knee Surgery?
- Arthritis: Should I Have Hip Replacement Surgery?
- Arthritis: Should I Have Knee Replacement Surgery?
- Arthritis: Should I Have Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
- Bunions: Should I Have Surgery?
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Should I Have Surgery?
- Dupuytren's Disease: Should I Have Hand Surgery?
- Inguinal Hernia: Should I Have Surgery Now, or Should I Wait?
- Low Back Pain: Should I Have an MRI?
- Low Back Pain: Should I Have Spinal Manipulation?
- Low Back Pain: Should I Try Epidural Steroid Shots?
- Lumbar Herniated Disc: Should I Have Surgery?
- Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Should I Have Surgery?
- Meniscus Tear: Should I Have a Diagnostic Test (MRI or Arthroscopy)?
- Meniscus Tear: Should I Have Surgery?
- Osteoporosis: Should I Have a Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) Test?
- Osteoporosis: Should I Take Bisphosphonate Medicines?
- Plantar Fasciitis: Should I Have Surgery for Heel Pain?
- Rotator Cuff Problems: Should I Have Surgery?
- Scoliosis: Should My Child Have Surgery?
- Temporomandibular Disorder: Should I Have Surgery for Jaw Pain?
- Tennis Elbow: Should I Have Surgery?
- ACL Injury: Exercises to Do Before Treatment
- Arthritis: Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Back Problems: Proper Lifting
- Chronic Pain: Using Healthy Thinking
- Exercises for Heel Pain or Tightness
- Foot Problems: Finding the Right Shoes
- Gout: Changing Your Diet
- Healthy Eating: Taking Calcium and Vitamin D
- Low Back Pain: Exercises to Reduce Pain
- Meniscus Tear: Rehabilitation Exercises
- Osteoarthritis: Exercising With Arthritis
- Patellar Tracking Disorder: Exercises
- Plantar Fasciitis: Exercises
- Rotator Cuff Problems: Exercises You Can Do at Home
- Sjögren's: Caring for Yourself at Home
- Sprained Ankle: Rehabilitation Exercises
- Sprained Ankle: Using a Compression Wrap
- Tennis Elbow: Stretches and Strengthening Exercises
- Wrist Care: Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Current as of: July 17, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.