Do your joints feel stiff and sore when you wake up in the morning, or even after you sit down for a few hours? Those sore joints could be arthritis, which affects almost 54 million Americans. The good news is that one of the most effective, proven treatments to relieve the symptoms of arthritis is getting regular physical exercise. This can be improved on even further by working directly with a physical therapist, who can help you create a tailor-made exercise plan to relieve those achy joints. Want to know more? Contact Shoreline Physical Therapy today to schedule an appointment and talk about how physical therapy can be used to treat arthritis.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflamed and painful joint. It can attack a single joint in the body, such as a knee or a hip. It can also affect multiple joints as a person ages. You probably know an older person who has arthritis that affects several joints in their hands.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. This condition is basically caused by “wear and tear” on the joints, which we’ll explain in more detail below. Rheumatoid arthritis is another type of this, which is an autoimmune condition. It’s much more common in women than in men. Both types can benefit from regular physical therapy and exercise.
Here are the main symptoms that a person experiences with arthritis:
- Stiff, sore joint (or joints), especially in the morning; the pain is lessened after about 30 minutes
- Pain during activity that improves
- “Noisy joints” – You hear all sorts of snaps, crackles and pops when bending the affected joint
- Joint is sensitive or painful to touch
- Swelling
With rheumatoid arthritis, joints on both sides of the body can be affected at the same time. People with this condition can also suffer from fatigue and loss of joint use.
Causes of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis, as we mentioned above, is caused by “wear and tear” on a joint. Our bones are covered with cartilage to protect them. Constant overuse of a joint or faulty movement pattern can cause that cartilage to break down, which eventually results in bones “grinding” together at the joint. This happens to all of us to a certain extent as we age, but there are some additional factors that can contribute to arthritis:
Injury
If you sustain an injury to a weight-bearing joint, especially a knee or a hip, it can lead to osteoarthritis later in life — even if you fully recover at the time.
Repetitive Jobs
An occupation that requires a lot of repetitive motion, such as bending, twisting, squatting or kneeling, can break down cartilage and lead to early-onset. Construction workers, flooring installers, and even child care workers (who bend over to pick up small children frequently) will often develop arthritis as a result of their careers.
Athletics
Athletes who put a lot of repetitive strain on their joints are also more prone to osteoarthritis, such as baseball pitchers, basketball players, ballet dancers, and football players.
Weight
Being overweight can lead to arthritis as well because it puts extra strain on weight-bearing joints.
Physical Therapy for Arthritis Pain Relief
Getting regular physical exercise is the number one approach to dealing with the pain of this, according to the Arthritis Foundation. But where should you begin? That’s where working with a physical therapist can help!
A licensed physical therapist will be able to recommend specific exercises for your age range, ability level and arthritis symptoms. Hands-on physical therapy (known as “manual therapy“) can be used to help improve the range of motion in the affected joints. Your physical therapist can teach you the types of strengthening and aerobic exercises that will best benefit your condition. You’ll also be given an at-home exercise program to follow. A physical therapist can even teach you about changes to make in your home or office that will improve your posture and help alleviate your arthritis symptoms.
Don’t suffer needlessly with arthritis by thinking it is “just a part of life.” Physical therapy can help! Contact Shoreline Physical Therapy today to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist and start getting arthritis pain relief.
For more information, Contact us at Wilmington, NC center.
What are the symptoms for arthritis pain?
Do your joints feel stiff, achy, or painful, especially when you wake up in the morning? If so, you may be experiencing the effects of arthritis. This is one of the most common symptoms of arthritis, but it is common to also expereince accompanying symptoms. Other sensations you may experience with arthritis include pain in the affected region, which may spread to surrounding body parts; persistent stiffness; inflammation; muscle spasms, joint creaking, clicking, or popping sounds; increased pain with certain activities, such as work or exercise; decreased range of motion in the affected area, abnormalities in gait, such as limping; swelling; weakness; and a warm sensation in the affected joint.
What are the best physical therapy treatments for arthritis pain?
Regardless of the cause of arthritis, physical therapy plays a major role in the treatment of its symptoms. Your physical therapist will conduct a physical evaluation to analyze your joint movement, muscle strength, overall function, and pain levels in order to see how arthritis has impacted your quality of life. You will then be prescribed a personalized treatment plan, focused around your specific needs. Treatment plans will include targeted stretches and exercises aimed at relieving your pain and improving your function, in addition to any specialized methods your physical therapist deems fit. These methods may include manual therapy, ice and heat therapies, electrical stimulation, footwear recommendations or custom orthotics. Your physical therapist may also recommend additional services as needed, such as weight management techniques and dietary strategies to reduce inflammation and help ease some stress on your joints. Education on posture improvement can also help relieve stiffness and prevent injury.
Can arthritis affect different body parts?
There are over 100 different types of arthritis, containing monoarthritis (where only one joint is affected) and oligoarthritis (where multiple joints are affected). According to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly 54.4 million U.S. adults are diagnosed with some form of arthritis per year. As we age, the cartilage in our joints wears down, causing painful bone-on-bone rubbing, inflammation, stiffness, and pain. While it is possible for arthritis to develop in any of the joints, the fingers, elbows, shoulders, lower back, hips, and knees are among the most common.
Can arthritis be cured?
While there is no cure for arthritis yet, it is possible to alleviate arthritic symptoms by improving your joint movement, muscle strength, balance, and coordination through physical therapy treatments. In some cases, physical therapy can even make it possible to eliminate symptoms entirely. For best results, it is in your best interest to consult with a physical therapist as soon as you begin noticing arthritic symptoms. The sooner they get treated, the easier they are to manage. Whatever type of arthritis you may be suffering from, physical therapy undoubtedly plays an important role in pain relief. In addition, it can also help you avoid the need for harmful pain-management drugs or invasive surgical correction.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
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Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!