Arthritis is a progressive joint disorder that degrades cartilage and joint lining, which provide efficient, smooth, and supportive musculoskeletal movement. The most common form is osteoarthritis, and it impacts more than 32 million Americans with joint pain, stiffness, and deformity. Managing OA and other forms of arthritis is possible through physical therapy. Sound interesting? Read more about it below.
What Does Arthritis Feel Like?
Most people with arthritis complain of joint pain – from mild aching to severe shooting, crushing pain in affected joints, such as the hip, knee, shoulder and spine. Besides the pain, which can be aggravated through overuse or from being too sedentary, arthritis causes:
- Noticeable joint deformity
- Stiffness
- Poor range of motion
- Decreased ability to ambulate
- Swelling
- Redness
- Tenderness
While advancing age factors into the development and severity of arthritis pain and other symptoms, it is not the only contributor. Overuse of certain joints, such as the knees in runners, obesity, heredity, and gender (more women than men) increase arthritis symptoms, too.
What Are Common Treatments for Arthritis Pain?
Your primary care physician or orthopedic specialist will work with you to determine which treatments will work best for your arthritis pain. Common treatments include:
- Pain medications (NSAIDS and others)
- Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation
- Use of durable medical equipment (DRE), such as crutches, canes, walking boots, braces, shoe orthotics, walkers, and more
- Weight loss to reduce pressure on cartilage, bone, and joint linings
- Smoking cessation to improve transport of oxygen and nutrients to joints
Care plans should be custom-tailored according to age, activity level, co-existing health problems, and more. Plus, communication between patient and healthcare provider increases the effectiveness of any arthritis treatment plan.
Can Physical Therapy Help Me Manage My Arthritis Pain?
Physical therapy is one of the most popular ways to manage arthritis pain, because PT really works. Patient input is invaluable to physical therapists who evaluate pain, ability to bear weight, balance and coordination, stiffness, and other aspects of this degenerative condition.
Physical therapists work closely with people to understand their abilities, disabilities, and desired outcomes for treatment. One person may wish to feel steady on their feet, while another may want to have less pain in the morning. Yet another individual may desire effective and more comfortable ways to enter and exit a car or climb stairs.
To achieve these goals, physical therapy employs:
- Manual therapies, such as massage, stretching, and passive range of motion exercises
- Training in body mechanics and posture
- Strategies to improve workstation ergonomics to take stress off painful joints
- Cardiovascular endurance training to improve blood flow to joint spaces and to decrease swelling
- Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and controlled movements (yoga)
In addition, your physical therapist can recommend at-home exercises to manage pain and keep joints as limber as possible. Simple walking, swimming, and cycling are very helpful for both the heart and for musculoskeletal health and function.
Plus, the more active you can be, the better your mood will be. A better outlook actually decreases joint pain.
Physical Therapy in Midlothian, VA
If you have any one of the numerous forms of arthritis and want to decrease your symptoms, the team at Virginia Center for Spine & Sports Therapy asks you to give physical therapy a try. Our team of skilled and compassionate therapists works with patients in both our clinic and at home to get them moving and functioning without constant pain.
To learn more about our physical therapy services, or to schedule a consultation, please call us at (804) 249-8277, or request a visit here. We will be happy to speak with you, perform a personalized assessment, and help develop a plan to control arthritis pain.
