Joint pain has a way of showing up at the worst possible time. Your knee waits until you’re halfway down the stairs to make a loud “pop,” your shoulder objects every time you reach for the top shelf, or your hip starts acting like a rusty hinge. It is tempting to blame “getting older,” but joint pain is almost always caused by something far more specific — and fixable.

At Mission Chiropractic Santa Clara, we help patients understand why their joints are hurting and what can be done to improve them. Many of our patients arrive after months of trying pain medications, resting, icing, stretching, or ignoring the issue entirely. When home remedies fail, your joints aren’t being dramatic — they’re giving you useful information.

What Causes Joint Pain?

Joint pain can come from multiple underlying mechanisms, including:

1. Joint Misalignment

When the bones in a joint aren’t sitting quite right (even slightly), they increase stress on cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. This leads to inflammation, stiffness, and that “grinding” feeling nobody likes.

2. Soft Tissue Restriction

Muscles and fascia can tighten around a joint, limiting mobility and altering movement patterns. Over time, this compensatory strain can create pain in the surrounding joints.

3. Chronic Inflammation

Whether from repetitive strain, overuse, or an old injury that never healed correctly, inflammation decreases joint lubrication and increases friction — cue the creaking noises.

4. Poor Movement Mechanics

Bad posture, weak stabilizing muscles, and uneven weight distribution force joints to absorb forces they weren’t designed to handle.

5. Previous Injuries

Sprains, microtears, or repetitive use injuries may heal improperly, reducing joint stability and making the area more prone to pain.

How Chiropractic Care Helps Joint Pain

Chiropractic care addresses the source of joint issues rather than just masking symptoms.

Chiropractic Adjustments

Gentle adjustments restore normal joint alignment and motion. When joints move better, inflammation decreases, nerves calm down, and mobility improves.

Soft Tissue Therapy

Techniques such as myofascial release and trigger point therapy loosen tight muscles and fascia that restrict joint movement.

Corrective Exercise

Strengthening stabilizer muscles and retraining proper movement patterns helps joints operate smoothly long-term — no more grinding, clicking, or limping theatrically.

Inflammation Reduction

By improving joint mechanics and nervous system function, chiropractic care reduces inflammatory stress on joints.

Functional Movement Restoration

We help retrain the way your body moves so the painful joint is no longer absorbing forces incorrectly.

In simple terms? Your joints stop complaining, start cooperating, and let you get back to normal life.