Joints are the body's natural shock absorbers. Joints, especially the ankles and knees, absorb tons of pressure with every movement we make. Therefore, joint pain is a common ailment, especially in older people. It can also have several causes.

The most common cause of joint pain is osteoarthritis. This particular disease eventually affects everybody, but to varying degrees. However, this illness affects more women over the age of 55. Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes the cartilage in a joint to wear away. Once the cartilage is completely eroded, the bones rub together and often form bony spurs.

An alternative cause of joint pain is injury to the ligaments. Ligaments keep the bones together in a joint. Ligament injuries are classified as either strains or sprains. Strains occur when the ligament is stretched beyond its limits. The stretch causes tears in the fibrous tissue. The ligament will swell causing joint pain. A sprain occurs when the joint is forced into an unnatural position. The ankle is the most common place for a sprain to occur.

Another general cause of joint pain is injury to the bones in a joint. Fractures and breaks are caused when too much stress is placed on the bone. Although something as simple as stepping wrong can cause damage to the bone, the more common causes of fractures are car accidents, repetitive motion, and falls.

The above are just a few causes of joint pain. They are also some of the most common causes. However, many other causes also exist. Septic arthritis occurs when a bacterial infection affects a joint. Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis cause a great deal of joint pain. In addition, tendonitis, usually caused by repetitive motion, can cause a great deal of joint pain. Obviously, joint pain can be caused by a variety of reasons. Therefore, it is imperative that you seek medical help if you are experiencing pain in any joints.