Joint

A joint is the point where two or more bones meet, held together by ligaments, cartilage, and other soft tissue structures that determine how much movement is possible and in which directions.

What joints are made of and what affects how they feel

Every joint in your body is structured differently depending on its function. Ball-and-socket joints like the hip and shoulder allow movement in multiple directions. Hinge joints like the knee and elbow primarily allow bending and straightening. Gliding joints in the spine and wrist allow more limited, controlled movement between surfaces. What they share is a set of structures that work together to allow movement while providing stability: cartilage covers the bone ends to reduce friction, synovial fluid lubricates the joint and nourishes the cartilage, ligaments connect bone to bone to limit excessive movement, and the joint capsule holds everything together. When any of these structures is damaged, worn, or inflamed, the joint's ability to move comfortably and absorb load is compromised — and that's when pain, stiffness, and instability tend to develop.

How Sword Health can help

Joint pain responds well to targeted physical therapy that builds muscle support, improves movement mechanics, and reduces the load on damaged or irritated structures. Sword connects you with a physical therapist from home who can assess what's happening in your specific joint and build a plan around it.