Arthritis Isn’t Your Problem!
The Pain You're Calling "Arthritis" Probably Isn't
"I have arthritis in my knee." "My shoulder hurts because of arthritis." "It's just arthritis—there's nothing I can do about it."
We hear this every single day in our physical therapy clinic. And here's the truth that might surprise you: most joint pain isn't actually arthritis.
The Real Culprits: Bursitis and Tendinitis
If your pain increases with activity rather than easing up after you've warmed up, you're likely dealing with bursitis or tendinitis—not arthritis. And that's actually good news, because these conditions respond incredibly well to proper treatment and movement correction.
Understanding the Difference
Arthritis is inflammation and degeneration of the joint itself. True arthritic pain typically:
Feels stiff first thing in the morning
Improves with gentle movement and warm-up
Worsens again after long periods of rest
Creates a deep, achy sensation in the joint
Bursitis is inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that cushion your joints. Bursitis pain typically:
Increases with specific movements or positions
Gets worse the more you use it
Creates sharp, localized pain
Often appears on the outside of joints (hip, shoulder, elbow, knee)
Tendinitis is inflammation of the tendons that connect muscle to bone. Tendinitis pain typically:
Hurts with specific activities or movements
Gets progressively worse during activity
May feel better with rest but returns when you resume activity
Creates pain along the tendon, not deep in the joint
Here are 2 key distinctions:
1) If your pain gets worse the more you move, it's probably not arthritis—it's likely bursitis or tendinitis.
2) If you can poke the painful spot and create “THE” pain, it isn’t arthritis.
The Root Cause: Movement Mechanics
So why do people develop bursitis and tendinitis in the first place? The answer almost always comes down to improper movement mechanics.
When you move with poor form—whether it's how you walk, lift, reach, or sit—certain structures get overloaded while others get underused. Over time, this creates:
Excessive friction on bursae, causing inflammation
Repetitive strain on tendons, leading to micro-tears and inflammation
Muscle imbalances that perpetuate the faulty movement patterns
Eventually, yes, arthritis can develop from years of abnormal joint stress
But here's what's critical to understand: arthritis is often the result of years of poor movement patterns, not the cause of your current pain.
Why This Matters for Your Treatment
If you've been told "it's just arthritis" and given pain medication or told to rest, you may be missing the actual problem. Many people live with unnecessary pain for years because they're treating the wrong condition.
The truth is:
Bursitis and tendinitis can be resolved with proper treatment, but worsen with improper treatment (like arthritis focused treatments)
Movement retraining can eliminate the source of the problem
Physical therapy can address the mechanical issues causing your pain
You don't have to "just live with it"
Signs Your Pain Is Movement-Related (Not Arthritis)
Ask yourself these questions:
Does your pain get progressively worse with activity? (Arthritis typically feels better once you're warmed up)
Is the pain sharp or burning rather than deep and achy? (Bursitis and tendinitis create more acute pain)
Does the pain occur in specific positions or movements? (This points to mechanical issues)
Is the pain on the outside of your joint rather than deep inside? (Classic sign of bursitis)
Did the pain come on gradually with certain activities? (Rather than the slow, progressive onset of arthritis [usually decades])
If you answered yes to most of these, you're likely dealing with bursitis, tendinitis, or other soft tissue issues—not arthritis.
What You Can Do About It
The good news is that movement-related pain responds to treatment:
1. Get an accurate diagnosis. Don't accept "arthritis" as the answer if your symptoms don't match. Ask specifically about bursitis, tendinitis, and movement mechanics.
2. See a physical therapist. We specialize in identifying faulty movement patterns and correcting them. This is the most effective way to address the root cause. If one didn’t work, find another we’re not all the same, trust me.
3. Focus on movement quality, not just quantity. How you move matters more than how much you move. One set of squats with perfect form beats ten sets with poor mechanics.
4. Address muscle imbalances. Weakness in certain areas forces other structures to compensate. Strengthening the right muscles can eliminate pain entirely.
5. Modify activities temporarily, don't eliminate them. Complete rest often makes things worse. Modified movement keeps you active while allowing healing.
6. Be patient with the process. You didn't develop these movement patterns overnight, and they won't change overnight. But with consistent work, most people see significant improvement in 4-8 weeks, but sometimes may take a year or 2, because habits can be hard to break.
Real Stories from Our Clinic
We've seen countless patients who were told they needed to "learn to live with" their arthritis, only to become pain-free after addressing their movement mechanics:
The 52-year-old runner with "knee arthritis" who actually had IT band syndrome and hip weakness—pain-free after 6 weeks of targeted exercises
The 45-year-old with "shoulder arthritis" who had rotator cuff tendinitis from poor posture—back to overhead activities after 8 weeks
The 60-year-old with "hip arthritis" who had trochanteric bursitis from a walking pattern issue—pain eliminated in 4 weeks
Yes, they had some arthritis visible on imaging. But arthritis WASN’T causing their pain—improper movement was.
Take Control of Your Pain
Stop accepting pain as inevitable. Stop thinking arthritis means you're broken. And stop limiting your life based on a diagnosis that might not even be accurate.
Most joint pain has a mechanical cause, which means it has a mechanical solution. With the right assessment, treatment plan, and commitment to retraining your movement patterns, you can return to the activities you love—pain-free.
Your body is designed to move well. Sometimes it just needs a little help remembering how.
At Jump 4 Wellness, we don't accept "just arthritis" as an answer. Our physical therapy approach identifies the true source of your pain and creates a personalized plan to get you moving without limitations. Ready to feel better? Let's talk.
Call or text me at (520) 415-0747 or email me at taylorjump@jump4wellness.com to schedule your session and eliminate your pain for good.
