Joint stiffness is the feeling of difficulty to move a joint or a decrease in the range of motion of a joint. This can also present with pain and/or swelling.

Depending on the cause of the problem there may also be redness, tenderness,
warmth or altered sensation around the joint. Stiff joints can be common to see if you have arthritis. Joint damage, including stiffness, can also happen following an injury or a period of immobilisation.

Sometimes people may perceive there to be some stiffness in the joint however, there may be inflammation in the area, such as a bursa that is limiting you from moving the joint. An assessment by your physiotherapist will help distinguish these. Your treatment for this will really depend on your presentation and what joint is affected. The primary aim of physiotherapy treatment will be to regain your range of motion to be able to return your baseline functional activity. This will include providing you with a specific exercise programme that is tailored for you.