Say “No More!” With The Help of A Physical Therapist
If you have arthritis, you are well aware of the difficulties it can cause in moving and functioning in daily life. Physical therapy, on the other hand, may be able to assist you find relief from your arthritis pain.
Although there is no treatment for arthritis, the onset of arthritis can be reduced and you will feel less pain overall if you use the exercises and strategies that your physical therapist can teach you.
You have the choice for a safer, more effective path toward arthritis pain management: physical therapy. Call Lake County Physical Therapy and schedule a physical therapy appointment today.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a term that refers to a group of painful joint disorders. It might manifest as painful gout in a toe joint in some people, while it can manifest as a bacterial joint infection in others.
The majority of arthritis sufferers, on the other hand, have one of two painful conditions:
- Rheumatoid arthritis – An auto-immune illness or malfunction causes this type of arthritis. The same defense mechanisms that ordinarily combat disease germs opt to target your joints, treating them as the enemy. This causes severe inflammation that comes and goes, resulting in joint swelling and deformity.
- Osteoarthritis – This is the most prevalent type of arthritis, and it is usually the result of a lifetime of joint mobility combined with particular changes that occur as people age.
Healthy joints have a layer of cartilage that works as a shock absorber and anti-friction component, as well as a lubricating fluid to keep the bone ends moving smoothly. The creation of lubricating fluid, on the other hand, might dry up with time, causing the cartilage to become thinner and more worn until it eventually breaks down completely. This causes pain, stiffness, and inflammation in the joints, which usually gets worse when you try to move or put weight on it.
Major benefits of physical therapy for arthritis pain
Arthritis damages the body’s joints, therefore physical therapy will focus on restoring joint function and improving your ability to move around and participate in regular activities.
This will be accomplished by combining exercise to strengthen the support structures around the joints with instruction on how to move and participate in activities without aggravating your symptoms. Your physical therapist will recommend a treatment plan based on how severe your arthritis is and which parts of your body are affected.
The physical exercises your therapist will teach you will be directed toward improving your mobility, range of motion, flexibility, and coordination. Your plan may include any combination of:
- Posture: Your therapist will teach you a variety of body mechanics techniques to help you enhance joint function and minimize discomfort. You’ll also learn how to ease the strain on your arthritic joints by using your strongest muscles and joints.
- Environmental modifications: Your physical therapist can make specific recommendations for additional therapeutic aids based on your type of arthritis. These can include ergonomic furniture or cushioned mats in areas of your home or at work where you tend to stand on your feet for long periods of time.
- Education: Sometimes arthritis in the hip or knee will require the use of assistive mobility devices, such as a cane or walker. Your physical therapist will teach you the proper way to use these devices.
- Treatments: To help with arthritis pain, modern physical therapy offers a variety of treatment alternatives. Hot and cold therapy can assist relieve joint pain and stiffness; braces or splints can help stabilize and support arthritic joints; shoe inserts can help relieve lower extremity arthritis discomfort; and so on.
What can I expect from PT for my arthritis pains?
Physical therapy visits are often short in duration. Your therapist will be focused on spotting problems with your physical function that are related to arthritis, and teaching you methods you can employ at home to relieve pain.
The way to actually achieve pain relief from your arthritis is to keep up with the teachings for the long term. The improvement will be gradual, so it’s important that you follow your physical therapist’s instructions.
In order to help your physical therapist to provide you with the best advice possible, think carefully about different physical goals that you might have.
You might wish to be able to do your everyday job without straining your hips or knees, reach items high up on a kitchen shelf without pain, or just get in and out of your car without pain, for example. By communicating your goals to your therapist, you may ensure that your therapies are tailored to your individual needs.
Physical therapy sessions are unlikely to be required on a weekly basis. It should be plenty to check in on your status and development once every few weeks.
Set up an appointment today
Arthritis pain can rule your life, but only if you let it. With so many holistic and safe methods of treatment out there, there’s no reason why you can’t start feeling better! If you are ready for relief from arthritis pain, call Lake County Physical Therapy to schedule your first appointment with a physical therapist.
