If you have arthritis, then you know all about the difficulties it can present with moving and functioning in everyday life. However, what you may not know is that physical therapy will help you to find relief from the pain of your arthritis.
There is no cure for arthritis, but the onset of arthritis can be slowed down exponentially through the benefits of physical therapy. When you work one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist, you’ll feel less discomfort by following the exercises and strategies that they will give you.
Not sure if physical therapy is right for you? Keep reading to learn more about how this method of treatment can combat aches and pains caused by arthritis.
Arthritis pain is no match for a physical therapist!
According to the CDC “In the United States, 23% of all adults—over 54 million people—have arthritis. About 24 million adults are limited in their activities from arthritis, and more than 1 in 4 adults with arthritis report severe joint pain.”
Arthritis is a condition that attacks the joints of the body by causing mass amounts of pain and inflammation. Physical therapy may help to restore the use of these joints and increase your ability to move about and participate in everyday activities.
This can be done by a combination of exercises to improve the support systems around the joints and teach you how to walk and participate in everyday tasks and activities, without worsening the symptoms.
The precise form of therapy that will be recommended by your physical therapist depends on how advanced your arthritis is and which areas 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.
Additional treatments for your arthritis may include:
- Environment Modifications: Based on your form of arthritis, your physical therapist will make suggestions for additional therapeutic aids you can use. For example, this may involve ergonomic furniture or placing cushioned mats for long periods of time in areas of your home or at work where you have to stand on your feet.
- 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 cope with arthritis pain, modern physical therapy has a wide variety of treatment options available. Hot and cold treatment may reduce joint pain and stiffness; braces or splints may help strengthen and protect arthritic joints; shoe inserts may relieve lower extremity arthritis pain; and so on.
- Posture: Your doctor will show you different methods of body mechanics that will optimize joint function and minimize pain. To relieve pressure on arthritic joints, you will also be taught ways to use the best muscles and joints.
What to expect with physical therapy for arthritis
Even if you have never seen a physical therapist for treatment before, you can rest assured you’re in good hands. Physical therapists are trained movement specialists who know how to pinpoint and target your exact areas of pain.
Visits to physical therapy are usually pretty brief. Your therapist will concentrate on recognizing arthritis-related physical function issues and showing you techniques that you can use at home to alleviate pain. For the long term, the way to truly obtain pain relief from your arthritis is to keep up with what you are taught in the physical therapist’s office. The change will be incremental, so it’s important that you obey the guidance of your physical therapist.
To help your physical therapist provide you with the best possible guidance, think carefully about the various physical objectives you may have. For instance, without straining your hips or knees, you might want to be able to do your everyday work, to reach items high up on a kitchen shelf, or simply get in and out of your car without pain. Expressing your expectations to your therapist will help to ensure that your therapies are as tailored as possible to your goals.
Your physical therapy sessions probably won’t need to be done on a weekly basis. Once every few weeks to monitor your condition and progress should be sufficient. If you are ready for relief from arthritis pain, call our office to schedule your first appointment with a physical therapist.
Ready to make long-lasting relief yours?
If you’ve been dealing with pain from arthritis in your joints or another condition that is causing your quality of life to dip downwards, call Total Care Physical Therapy today so that we can help you.
Our team of physical therapists specializes in helping every person who walks through our doors find the pain relief they deserve. We’re excited to meet with you and we can’t wait to watch you travel down the path of healthy and safe pain management.
