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Knuckle pain and swelling: Knuckle Pain: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

Knuckle Pain: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

Knuckle Pain: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

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Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. D. — By Ali Kimbrel — Updated on August 1, 2018

Overview

Knuckle pain can occur in any or all fingers. It can be very uncomfortable and make everyday tasks more difficult.

Knowing the cause of knuckle pain can help you find methods of pain relief so you are able to do the things you’re used to doing.

Knuckle pain can feel like stiffness in the joints, making it difficult to move or bend your fingers. You might experience pain when moving these joints. The pain may be accompanied by swelling and redness. Some people experience a dull aching pain, even when not using their hands.

The most common cause of knuckle pain is arthritis. Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation of the joints, including the knuckles. This inflammation can result in pain, stiffness, and swelling.

A person with arthritis usually feels pain with active use of their hands followed by a dull ache afterward.

Other causes may be:

  • Injury. Any type of injury, such as a dislocation, that causes a lot of pain should be treated immediately.
  • Tendonitis. Tendonitis is a swelling of the stretchy bands that help your fingers to move. It causes pain around a joint.
  • Mixed connective tissue disease. Joint pain in the hands is one of the early symptoms of mixed connective tissue disease.
  • Scleroderma. Also known as systemic sclerosis, scleroderma can cause joint pain, swelling, and limited movement of the fingers.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis. This is a common connective tissue disorder that can affect the knuckles.
  • Gout. Although uncommon, gout can result in pain and swelling of the knuckle.
  • Infection. An infection can also cause pain and swelling in the knuckle.

There’s no one treatment for relieving knuckle pain. Consult with your doctor about pain relief techniques such as:

  • Ice. Applying ice to sore knuckles can help reduce swelling and pain.
  • Medication. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help ease pain.
  • Vitamin C. A 2017 study suggests that vitamin C may reduce pain in joints.
  • Surgery. In severe cases, surgery to repair the damage in the joints of the knuckles may be necessary, but this isn’t common.

Taking care of your joints can help to prevent future knuckle pain. This includes:

  • Exercise. Proper exercise can ensure your hands are strong and resilient.
  • Protection. Wear gloves when appropriate to protect your knuckles.
  • Proper nutrition. Diets rich in calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin C can help keep your joints healthy.

Knuckle pain often doesn’t have an easy fix. Arthritis, the most common cause of knuckle pain, is a chronic condition that can be managed but not cured.

Taking care of your joints and treating the symptoms of knuckle pain can help to reduce its effect on your daily life.

Last medically reviewed on July 31, 2018

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

  • Carr A, et al. (2017). The role of vitamin C in the treatment of pain: New insights. DOI:
    10.1186/s12967-017-1179-7
  • Joint disorders. (2018).
    medlineplus.gov/jointdisorders.html
  • Joint health and care: Prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. (2009).
    medlineplus.gov/magazine/issues/spring09/articles/spring09pg14.html
  • Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Mixed connective tissue disease.
    mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mixed-connective-tissue-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20375147
  • Scleroderma symptoms. (n.d.).
    hopkinsmedicine. org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/arthritis_and_other_rheumatic_diseases/scleroderma_symptoms_22,sclerodermasymptoms

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Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D. — By Ali Kimbrel — Updated on August 1, 2018

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Non-arthritis causes of swollen, painful finger joints

Arthritis is a common cause of finger swelling, but other conditions — such as injuries, preeclampsia, and trauma — can also cause swelling, inflammation, and pain in the fingers and knuckles.

Finger swelling can happen when inflammation or fluid accumulates in the tissues or joints of one or all of the fingers. A person may lose some mobility and notice that their fingers are stiffer and more tender than usual.

Both minor and more severe infections and conditions can cause varying degrees of swelling in the fingers. If someone experiences finger swelling along with pain, heat, and flushing, they should seek urgent medical advice.

Read on to learn more about some potential causes of finger joint swelling that are not arthritis, accompanying symptoms, and treatment options.

During hot weather, the blood vessels dilate. This makes it possible for more blood to flow through the skin, which cools it down as it loses heat to the air. When this happens, people may notice their fingers and feet swelling.

Symptoms

Generally, when someone experiences heat edema, their skin is shinier and stretched around the swollen area. They may also feel a tightness in their fingers when picking up cups and other objects.

Treatment

To reduce heat edema, people should try to move into the shade. They should also ensure that they eat and drink enough during the day.

When a person exercises, they feel hotter. To cool down, the body pushes the blood closer to the surface of the skin to dissipate the heat. When this happens, a person may notice swelling in their hands, fingers, and feet.

However, finger swelling is sometimes a symptom of a more serious condition called hyponatremia. Exercise-related hyponatremia occurs when blood sodium concentration drops to a dangerous level because a person is exercising and drinking too much water without replacing lost electrolytes.

Symptoms

The early stages of hyponatremia may present with puffiness and swelling in the hands and feet. If a person has hyponatremia, they require urgent medical attention.

Some other symptoms of hyponatremia include:

  • confusion
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • seizures
  • coma

Treatment

Finger swelling from exercising usually goes down when a person takes a break or ends their workout.

Treatment for hyponatremia varies depending on how low a person’s blood sodium levels are. Some people may need to stop drinking until they urinate, whereas others may need intravenous (IV) saline.

When blood sodium levels are severely low, some people may need hospital admission for close monitoring and frequent blood work. This is because hyponatremia requires very careful correction. However, if correction occurs too quickly, some people can become sicker, and this can be life threatening.

Common causes of hand and finger injuries include:

  • falls
  • sports
  • catching fingers in machines
  • thermal burns
  • chemical burns

When a person hurts their hand or fingers, they usually experience pain and swelling and lose finger mobility for a while.

If the damage is particularly severe, a person may later develop complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). CRPS occurs when the body’s inflammatory response to the injury is too high.

Symptoms

Some CRPS symptoms include:

  • stiffness
  • pain
  • swelling
  • changes in skin color

Treatment

When a person injures their finger, immediate treatment usually includes:

  • taking over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory medications
  • taking OTC pain relief medications
  • taping the finger to restrict movement

If stiffness develops, the person may need to perform finger exercises and continue to take anti-inflammatory medications.

Hand and finger infections are common in people who work on farms and building sites. Staphylococcus aureus is the most prevalent bacterial hand infection and is responsible for 80% of cases.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the most common viral infection, whereas Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton species tend to cause most fungal infections.

Symptoms

Depending on where the infection is, a person could experience:

  • pain
  • heat around the swelling
  • skin darkening
  • abscess
  • loss of finger function

A person may also experience systemic infections, which cause symptoms such as fever and chills. This may be more likely if there is joint involvement of the infection.

Treatment

Antibiotics can treat bacterial infections. HSV could resolve on its own, but a doctor may recommend antiviral treatment if it does not. Depending on how severe a fungal infection is, a doctor usually prescribes topical antifungal medications to apply to the affected area before considering oral medication.

Some swelling in the fingers is normal during pregnancy. However, if swelling occurs rapidly and with other symptoms, a person should contact a doctor immediately.

In the last trimester of pregnancy, some people experience preeclampsia. When this happens, blood pressure and swelling suddenly increase, which can be dangerous for both the parent and the fetus.

Symptoms

When a person has preeclampsia, they may experience:

  • swelling in the fingers, hands, and feet
  • a persistent headache
  • blurry vision
  • difficulty breathing

Learn more about preeclampsia.

Treatment

When preeclampsia is mild, a doctor usually watches the person closely until they give birth. During this time, the doctor may test their blood and urine and monitor the fetus with an ultrasound.

In severe cases of preeclampsia, the individual may receive IV medication to control their blood pressure and prevent seizures.

When someone has carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve in the wrist is compressed, which causes pain in the hands and fingers. In most cases, people report that their fingers feel swollen but that they cannot actually see any swelling.

Symptoms

Some other symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

  • numbness in the index and middle fingers
  • tingling during the day and night
  • difficulty grasping objects
  • weakness

Treatment

A doctor may recommend the following carpal tunnel treatments:

  • splinting
  • avoiding activities that trigger pain
  • taking OTC pain relief medications
  • trying alternative therapies, such as acupuncture
  • undergoing surgery

Learn more about carpal tunnel syndrome.

Bursitis occurs when the bursa inflames. Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that sit between bones, tendons, and muscles. Bursitis can develop anywhere in the body, including the fingers, but common areas of inflammation tend to be in the hips, elbows, and knees.

When someone overuses their joints, it can lead to bursitis.

Symptoms

Some symptoms of bursitis include:

  • pain
  • tenderness around joint
  • reduced joint mobility
  • swelling and skin darkening

Treatment

Treatment options for non-infectious bursitis in the finger include:

  • resting the area
  • icing the area
  • taking OTC anti-inflammatory and pain relief medications
  • taping up the finger to reduce movement

Learn more about bursitis.

Scleroderma means hard skin. It is an autoimmune condition that affects the skin and underlying connective tissue. It can also sometimes lead to multi-organ involvement.

Symptoms

When a person has this condition, they may notice their skin becoming stiff and swollen around the finger joints.

Some other symptoms of localized scleroderma include:

  • pale fingers
  • finger joint pain
  • taut and shiny skin where there is swelling
  • immobile fingers

Treatment

There is currently no cure for scleroderma, but doctors can treat hardened skin and inflammation using corticosteroids.

Learn more about scleroderma.

Some other potential causes of finger swelling include:

  • mallet finger
  • nailbed injuries
  • trigger finger
  • Dupuytren’s contracture
  • cysts
  • tumors

People typically experience pain and swelling in the fingers after a sprain or injury. If the swelling does not show any signs of reducing after a few days, a person should contact a doctor — especially if the area feels hot.

Sometimes, finger swelling is a symptom of a more serious condition, such as preeclampsia or scleroderma. In these cases, a person usually experiences other symptoms, such as headaches and pale fingers, respectively.

Finger swelling has various causes. Injuries, physical activities, and environmental factors such as hot weather can all cause finger swelling. Some rare autoimmune conditions, such as localized scleroderma, can also present with finger joint swelling.

If a person is pregnant and their fingers swell rapidly, they should contact a doctor to rule out preeclampsia.

Joint pain


Joint pain


Joint discomfort is common and is usually felt in the arms, legs, hips, knees, or spine. The pain may be constant or it may come and go. Sometimes the joint may feel stiff, aching, or sore. Some patients complain of a burning, throbbing, or “grinding” sensation. In addition, the joint may feel stiff in the morning, but it relaxes and feels better with movement and activity. However, excessive activity can increase pain.

Symptoms


Symptoms of joint pain range from mild to severe. Symptoms may include:

  • Swelling (edema)
  • Stiff or enlarged joint
  • Numbness
  • Cracking or clicking in the joints
  • Painful movement
  • Difficult to flex or extend a joint
  • Loss of movement
  • Red, hot and swollen joint

When to see a doctor?


If the pain is interfering with your normal daily life, it’s time to talk to your doctor about the problem. It is important to quickly diagnose the cause of pain and begin treatment to relieve pain and maintain healthy, functioning joints.

You should see a doctor if:

  • Pain accompanied by fever
  • Unexplained weight loss (5 kg or more)
  • Pain prevents you from walking normally

Reasons


The most common causes of chronic joint pain are:

  • Osteoarthritis occurs over time when cartilage, the protective cushion between bones, wears out. The joints become painful and stiff. Osteoarthritis develops slowly and usually occurs in middle age.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes swelling and pain in the joints. Joints are often deformed (most often fingers and wrists).
  • Gout is a painful condition in which body crystals accumulate in a joint, causing severe pain and swelling. It usually occurs on the big toe.
  • Bursitis occurs due to overexertion. It is usually found in the hip, knee, shoulder or elbow joints
  • Viral infections, rash or fever can cause painful joint movements.
  • Injuries such as broken bones or sprains
  • Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons or flexible bands that connect bones and muscles. It is usually seen in the elbow, heel, or shoulder and is usually caused by overuse.

Risk factors


Joint pain tends to affect those who:

  • Had a previous joint injury
  • Multiple repetitive joint loading
  • You have arthritis or other chronic conditions
  • Suffer from depression, anxiety and/or stress
  • Are overweight
  • Age is also a factor in joint stiffness and tenderness.

Prevention and treatment:


  • Try to rest the affected joint if you can;

  • Apply cold, ice pack wrapped in towel to painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours;

  • Take pain relievers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;

  • Try to lose weight if you are overweight;

  • Eliminate heavy lifting;

  • Do not stop moving the affected joint completely.

Diseases of the joints symptoms and treatment in Moscow Make an appointment. Treatment at home and in the clinic – Clinic SINAI near the metro station Dobryninskaya, Serpukhovskaya in Moscow

According to WHO (World Health Organization) statistics, joint diseases occupy one of the main places in terms of prevalence among the population. Currently, there is a rapid increase in such diseases, primarily associated with lifestyle changes. Low level of physical activity, stress, overweight, sedentary work, improperly selected shoes, injuries have led to the fact that diseases of the musculoskeletal system have become “younger” and are increasingly common not only in the elderly, but also in young people. One of the most common symptoms when visiting a doctor is pain, decreased range of motion, redness, joint deformity, swelling, and dysfunction. Specialists of the Sinai Medical Center will be able to diagnose the cause of the disease and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Causes of diseases of the joints

The musculoskeletal system of each person consists of bones, ligaments, muscles and joints. A change in the work of the hotel link affects the functioning of the joint as a whole, leading to dystrophic changes and characteristic symptoms. For example, osteoporosis is a disease of the bones and joints, in which bone density decreases, it becomes more fragile, and the risk of fractures increases. This disease can be asymptomatic for a long time, but most often the vertebral bodies suffer, they are displaced, thereby causing pain and forcing you to go to the doctor. Constant monotonous physical work associated with lifting weights, a static, “sedentary” lifestyle, irrational, abrupt load in the gym – all this leads to excessive impact on the joint, leads to its wear and deformation. Injuries, fractures, bruises received in everyday life can lead to rupture of muscles, ligaments, bone fractures and dysfunction of the joint as a whole. Irrational nutrition and a high body mass index lead to impaired blood circulation in the tissues, a large load on the joints and rapid wear.

Inflammatory causes of joint disease

One of the causes of joint diseases is inflammatory processes caused by autoimmune, allergic reactions in the body or infectious agents. Arthritis is a collective term for joint diseases of inflammatory etiology. These include:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in the joints. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis are the following factors: genetic, infectious and starting. Their complex effect triggers an autoimmune mechanism for the development of the disease.

  • Septic (infectious) arthritis is a disease in which inflammation of the joints occurs due to the ingestion of an infectious agent by the hematogenous (through the blood), lymphogenous (through the lymph and lymphatic system) or direct route (due to injuries and injuries). Thus, the focus of infection can be located not only in the joint cavity, but also remotely. Most often, this disease affects large joints (monoarthritis), but with progression, the process can spread in the body.

  • Polyarthritis is an inflammatory process that affects several joints simultaneously or sequentially. It can occur as an independent pathological process, or be a consequence of infectious and non-infectious diseases: sepsis, gout, severe stressful situations, and others.

  • Spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the vertebral bodies, which subsequently leads to their deformation and destruction and severe pain. The most severe form of spondylitis is spondyloarthritis – Bechterew’s disease – in which there is a sharp limitation of joint mobility due to the replacement of an elastic connective tissue structure with bone tissue. The presumed cause of this disease is autoimmune processes, heredity and the trigger for the development of the disease in the form of infection, hypothermia and injury.

Metabolic causes of joint disease

Nutrition, metabolic disorders play an important role in the development of joint disease. Gout is a metabolic (exchange) disease characterized by the deposition of urate crystals and the accumulation of uric acid. The cause of this disease is a combination of factors, such as: excessive consumption of red meat, coffee, tea, alcohol; concomitant pathology in the form of arterial hypertension, renal failure, autoimmune diseases. A characteristic symptom of gout is tophi – gouty nodules, leading to deformation and destruction of the joint. In the future, the disease spreads to the kidneys and other organs, leading to multiple organ failure.

Degenerative-dystrophic causes of joint disease

The pathogenesis of dystrophic diseases consists in progressive metabolic (metabolic) disorders of cartilage and bone tissue and the gradual involvement of other articular structures in the pathological process, the development of deformity, a decrease in active movements, loss of function, constant pain syndrome and deterioration in the quality of life.

Osteochondrosis – complex degenerative changes in articular cartilage. There are three forms of osteochondrosis of the spine: cervical, thoracic and lumbar. According to clinical guidelines, one of the reasons for the development and progression of this disease is a genetic predisposition. This is due to the individual characteristics of the vertebral-radicular-spinal relationships: the variability in the number of lumbar and sacral vertebrae and the level of exit of the roots from the spinal cord. In addition, immune, hormonal, vascular, metabolic and infectious causes are distinguished. Overweight, injuries, bruises, sedentary, sedentary lifestyle, irrational physical activity, spinal overload, smoking, stressful situations also play an important role in the development and steady progression of the disease.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease caused by cartilage damage. The etiology of osteoarthritis is based on trauma, dysplasia (congenital inferiority of the joint) and inflammation. In addition, there are risk factors that affect the development of this disease: heredity, obesity, metabolic and endocrine disorders, inflammatory processes in the joint and in the body, trauma, surgery, hypothermia. A feature of osteoarthritis is the formation of osteophytes. Osteophyte – a pathological growth on the surface of the bone tissue, which causes deformation of the joint – deforming osteoarthritis.

Manifestation of disease

Each disease of the musculoskeletal system is characterized by its own symptoms and clinical features. However, some common manifestations can be identified. One of the first signs that make you see a doctor is pain. It may appear or worsen after minimal physical activity, at rest, including at night. In diseases of the joints of the feet and knees, pain may appear when climbing or descending stairs. A person may notice discomfort when walking in familiar shoes.

A person suffering from a disease of the joints may notice a crunch during movement, with little physical exertion, climbing to the floor, rotating movements in the wrist joints.

An important diagnostic significant criterion is the stiffness characteristic of the morning hours or after prolonged inactivity, for example, watching a movie. A person complains that after waking up or resting, he needs some time to warm up, “swing”, after which he is able to perform the usual load. This symptom is especially characteristic of the early manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.

Unreasonable restriction of physical activity also makes one think about the development of joint diseases. If the usual distance from the stop to the house has to be overcome with difficulty, a person is forced to stop, slow down or sit down because of pain, this is a reason to contact a specialist.

Often, patients complain of general weakness, body aches, comparable to a flu-like condition. These symptoms, with the exclusion of acute respiratory viral infections, are also diagnostically important in making a diagnosis.

Of great importance are local changes directly in the area of ​​the affected joint:

1. hyperemia (fever),

2. redness,

3. swelling,

4. deformation,

5. increase or decrease in sensitivity,

6. swelling,

7. osteocartilaginous growths and seals.

All these signs can be a symptom of inflammatory, metabolic and degenerative-dystrophic processes in the joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by a slow but progressive course of the disease, the clinical manifestations of which may occur after several years. The disease most often affects the proximal interphalangeal joints, wrist, knee and elbow, in contrast to the distal interphalangeal joints, which are rarely affected with this disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by asthenic syndrome (fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, depression), morning stiffness for 30 minutes or more, limitation of movement in the joint, edema, swelling, local fever, constant, chronic pain, including migratory, loss of active movements, deformation. There is a symptom of “tight gloves”, “corset”, an increase in the time of stiffness after previous active physical activity. With the progression of the disease, due to the autoimmune component of pathogenesis, extra-articular manifestations from the organs of vision, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous and circulatory systems are added to the clinical picture.

Allocate juvenile or youthful rheumatoid arthritis. This disease is typical for children under 16 years of age, the clinical criteria of which are articular (deformity, pain, swelling) and non-articular (rash, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, fever, damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys) symptoms.

Infectious (septic) arthritis progresses rather quickly, especially after the penetration of the infectious agent directly into the joint cavity. It can affect any joint, most often affecting the knee, elbow, wrist and ankle joints, due to injuries, and the hip joint, due to hematogenous and lymphogenous penetration of the source of infection from the affected organ. Depending on the nature of the antigen (foreign, potentially dangerous substance) that has entered the body, the clinical picture can be quite diverse. So, for example, with the penetration of staphylococcus, streptococcus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, patients complain of pain, redness, local (and sometimes general) fever, swelling; gonococcus is characterized by a skin-articular syndrome, namely multiple rashes on the skin and mucous membranes; for Brucella, chills, fever, hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver) and splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen). With gonorrheal arthritis, the joints of the hands, knees, and ankles are most often affected, and the inflammatory process itself is complicated by flat feet and deforming osteoarthritis. Infectious arthritis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is characterized by general tuberculosis intoxication and “cold abscesses”.

Polyarthritis is characterized by pain, dysfunction, edema, hyperemia and hyperthermia over the surface of one, simultaneously or successively several joints. With monoarthritis, the knee joints are most often affected, and for polyarthritis, a mirror lesion of both large and small joints is characteristic. The leading clinical symptoms are pain, slight morning stiffness, numbness, coldness and muscle atrophy, as well as deformity, changes in the size and shape of the joint. There are also extra-articular lesions from the respiratory, cardiac vascular system and kidneys. Polyarthritis can also develop after a viral, fungal or bacterial infection, chronic diseases are of great importance. Allocate psoriatic polyarthritis, characteristic of people suffering from psoriasis. In this case, not only the joint is affected, but the skin over it also changes. It is not characterized by symmetry of the lesions.

For osteochondrosis, regardless of localization, as a rule, pain, muscle spam, impaired posture, curvature of the spine, forced stiffness of movements and aches are characteristic. With cervical osteochondrosis, patients complain of numbness of the hands, limited movement in the neck, headache, dizziness, tinnitus, and general weakness. The thoracic region may be characterized by retrosternal pain. Pain in the lumbar region often severely restricts movement, a person complains that he cannot get out of bed. Over time, the process can spread and cover several parts of the spine.

Diagnosis of diseases of the joints and bones

The basis for the diagnosis of any disease is a thorough history taking. It is important to objectively assess the patient’s complaints and differentiate them from other diseases. So, for example, pain in the lumbar region can be not only with lumbar osteochondrosis, but also with diseases of the pelvic organs, and the clinical picture of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is similar to the symptoms of pain in the heart and even heart attacks.

It is important to establish how long ago the complaints appeared, whether there are congenital anomalies, traumas, operations, infectious, inflammatory and chronic diseases. It should be noted when and how often exacerbations occur, how quickly these symptoms stop, whether they are associated with physical activity or occur at rest. Next, a visual examination and palpation of the joints is necessary. The integrity, shape, size of the joint, color and temperature of the skin are assessed. It is possible to palpate rheumatoid nodules, to establish pain during passive movements, a crunch, the degree of loss of function, the amplitude of mobility.

Laboratory diagnosis is of great importance. Biochemical, general analysis of blood and urine will assess the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. For research, synovial fluid can be used, which reflects the presence or absence of infectious agents in the joint cavity. To confirm the inflammatory process, its color, transparency, consistency, viscosity are evaluated.

Instrumental diagnostic methods are often the gold standard for diagnosing joint disease. X-ray examination is most informative for injuries of bones and joints, fractures, dislocations, sprains. Ultrasound diagnostics (ultrasound) is used to assess the condition of soft tissues, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and the level of synovial fluid.