Feeling aches and pains is a normal part of aging, but don’t let it get you down. If you’re experiencing arthritis symptoms, physical therapy can be a helpful solution to improve your health and mobility without relying solely on medication or joint replacement. Physical therapy can assist in regaining your health and mobility while helping to reduce pain, helping you live a better quality of life.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a term used to describe a range of around 100 conditions that impact people of all ages and backgrounds. It is a common reason people suffer from disabilities in the country. Each type is a bit different, but most create symptoms such as:
- Swelling in joints
- Stiffness
- Limitations on movement due to pain
- Reduced range of motion
- Painful walking
- Difficulty climbing stairs
- Limitations on daily activities
Over time, the damage in the joints can worsen, creating an even more challenging level of pain. One of the most common forms, osteoarthritis, can impact any joint, including the knees, hips, hands, shoulders, and spine. This is a disease of the whole joint, not just the cartilage, that creates padding between joints when they move. As the joint weakens, the tissues that hold it in place and functioning begins to deteriorate. Inflammation then grows and becomes so unbearable a person stops using that joint the way they did.
Other types of arthritis include infectious arthritis, gout, and autoimmune inflammatory arthritis. Each has a different cause, but many involve inflammation that can be improved upon with physical therapy.
When Should You See a Physical Therapist?
Your first step whenever you have pain is to seek out the help of your doctor or physical therapist. They can provide some insight into what could be occurring and help determine if you have arthritis. From there, they can determine which type you have, which can ultimately provide insight into treatment options.
A physical therapist may be able to help you with the following:
- Managing symptoms
- Improving range of motion
- Increasing mobility
- Improving your ability to get around
- Reducing your pain
You don’t have to wait for your doctor to prescribe physical therapy. You can reach out for help whenever you decide to do so. As you do, you’ll be able to see the vast amount of improvement this treatment may be able to bring to you. But can physical therapy actually help arthritis? You may know the importance of physical therapy after an injury. In that case, the treatment works to improve muscle strength, to ensure you are properly using your joints, and improve overall inflammation. It does the same thing when applied to arthritis – creating a way to improve your life that’s less invasive than most surgical procedures.
Physical Therapy Treatment for Arthritis
It’s always best to work closely with your physical therapist to create a very specific treatment plan. The goal is not to worsen your pain or to increase injury risk to your body. Rather, your physical therapist will begin by working to create specific goals for you based on the impacted area and your overall condition.
Some of the most common types of physical therapy that can help with arthritis include:
- Aerobic exercise machines: These work to help strengthen muscles and help support your heart health. They may help you to lose some weight, which reduces the pressure on your joints.
- Weight machines: You may learn how to do some lightweight exercises to help you build up your muscle strength and function. This should be done carefully to avoid complicated injury risks.
- Equipment: Your physical therapist may recommend other options, like the use of resistance bands to improve range of motion and exercise balls to boost core stability.
- Aquatic Therapy: Aquatic therapy can help relieve arthritis pain and improve joint flexibility by reducing the impact of gravity on the body. The water’s buoyancy also allows for gentle resistance and support during exercise, making it easier to move and build strength.
What to Expect at Your Physical Therapy Appointment
The initial step in treatment is always to gather information. Your physical therapist will learn more about your health and any injuries you may have had. Then, they will work with you to create some goals. Typically, the focus will be on things like reducing pain, improving movement, and overall improving your quality of life.
Your physical therapist will create a plan to address those needs. Here are some common goals:
- Improving range of motion: To do this, your PT will work to continue to use joints that are limited, bending them and moving them further than they feel like they can go. Over time, this can help increase the overall range of motion.
- Improving balance: Often, one of the most common risks for injury from arthritis comes from a fall, but your muscles and joints can become weaker as a result of this condition. Your physical therapist will work to help reduce this by improving balance, such as creating better movement, increasing the walking distance you have, and improving your overall confidence.
- Increasing strength in joints: Both muscles and the impacted joints can be strengthened through the use of light weight-bearing exercises when proper control and care are placed. You will learn how to do this on your own, including how to improve the stability of your joints and reduce friction in your joints when moving.
You can expect your physical therapist to help you with movements and therapy but also to teach you how to perform them at home. That way, you can continue to see improvements in your health and well-being over time. You may also learn of complimentary support like using heat or cold therapy or water aerobics.
Reach Out to Rock Valley Physical Therapy
At Rock Valley Physical Therapy, we are committed to providing our patients with exceptional, customized care. When you reach out to us, our goal will always be to create a treatment plan that minimizes your discomfort and improves your quality of life. Contact us now for an appointment.