Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. The most commonly affected joins are the hips, knees, hands, and spine.
Also, it is not a single disease but an umbrella term that includes a variety of different types. Some of the more common examples are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
And while physical therapy might not be the first treatment you think of for arthritis, it probably should be. A lot of people choose to use medication to manage their pain, stop activities that hurt, and wait for things to get bad enough to have a joint replacement. This isn’t a great plan – all medications have side effects, even over the counter ones. Reducing activity leads to muscle atrophy and even stiffer joints. Even though joint replacement surgery usually has good outcomes, it does come with its own set of risks and a painful recovery.
How Physical Therapy Helps Arthritis
Physical therapy has been extensively researched as a treatment for arthritis, and demonstrates good outcomes. Physical therapists typically start with exercise as the base for the treatment. Exercise helps to regain lost joint motion, decrease feelings of stiffness, and strengthen muscles surrounding the affected joint. These benefits are all somewhat obvious. What surprises many people is that exercise has been shown to be as effective as medication for pain relief in many types of arthritis, without the side effects.
Physical therapy has more to offer people with arthritis than just exercise though. Education helps people understand their condition, what to expect, and how to manage it. As experts in human movement, physical therapists are especially good at helping people modify the way they perform certain tasks or activities to reduce strain on joints affected by arthritis. They can also suggest ways to modify the environment at work or home to reduce pain and improve function. They may also suggest things like braces, orthotics, or other devices that can help maintain mobility and reduce pain. On top of all of that, physical therapy is a cost effective treatment, too.
Physical therapy is a recommended first line treatment for many types of arthritis. Try it for yourself!
If you have or think you have arthritis, schedule an appointment or free screen with us to see how PT can help!