Joint Pain : Types and Symptoms of Joint Pain

Joint pain, also known as "Arthralgia," is defined as pain, stiffness, or swelling in or around a joint. There are 360 joints in the human body. Joint pain often occurs in joints of high impact, such as the knees, hips, and back, but many women notice the joints in their hands become stiffer and more painful with age.

Types of joints

There are several types of joints in the human body. Below of the joints most commonly associated with joint pain.

• Ball and Socket Joints allow for a wide range of rotation and movement. The shoulder and hip are ball and socket joints.
• Condyloid Joints allow movement but no rotation. There are condyloid joints in the jaw and fingers.
• Gliding Joints allow bones to glide past each other. There are gliding joints in the ankles, wrists and spine.
• Hinge Joints allow for movement much like that of a door hinge. The knee and ulna part of the elbow are hinge joints.
Pivot Joints allow bones to spin and twist around other bones. There are pivot joints in the neck and the radius part of the elbow.
• Saddle Joints allow for back and forth and side to side motion but limited rotation. There is a saddle joint in the thumb.


Symptoms of Joint Pain

The symptoms of joint pain will depend on the particular cause of the pain experienced, but the typical symptoms of joint pain related to menopause include: pain, stiffness, swelling, and warmth in the joints. Limited morning stiffness, exacerbation of pain with exercise, and relief from pain with rest are also common symptoms in women who suffer from joint pain.