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. Arthritis is a common condition that millions of Americans are diagnosed with. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 54.4 million U.S. adults are diagnosed with some form of arthritis each year. While it is possible for arthritis to develop in any of the joints, the lower back, hips, and knees are among the most common.
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RELIEVE YOUR LOWER BACK, HIP, AND KNEE ARTHRITIS PAINS
INSIDE : • Garden Ergonomics At A Glance
• Healthy Recipe • Staff Spotlight
• Find Relief With Bay State Physical Therapy
Symptoms of arthritis in the lower back, hip, or knee typically include: • Pain in the affected region, which may spread to surrounding body parts • Stiffness • Inflammation • Muscle spasms • Joint creaking, clicking, or popping sounds • Increased pain with certain activities (such as work or physical activity) • Decreased range of motion in the affected area • Abnormalities in gait (such as limping) • Swelling • Weakness • Warm sensation in the affected joint With time, arthritis of the lower back, hip, or knee can lead to more serious conditions, such as bone spurs ordeformity. Ifyouaresuffering fromanyof theabove symptomsandyouare looking for relief,donothesitate to contact us today, before your condition worsens.
Osteoarthritis is the most common, and is the result of gradual “wear and tear” of cartilage surrounding the joints. This can occur from age or from excessive, repetitive use of the affected joint(s). When cartilage is worn down, it can no longer act as a strong cushion andshockabsorber for the joints, resulting inbone-on- bone friction and painful inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis and it is not as well understood. It is the second most commonlyexperienced formofarthritis,and itdevelops as an autoimmune response. When someone has rheumatoid arthritis, their immune system sees the joints as a threat. Because of this perceived threat, the immune system attacks the joints, resulting in pain and inflammation. While research is ongoing, in order to better understand rheumatoid arthritis, many experts believe that your hormones, medical history, and environment could all be contributing factors.
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. Arthritis is a common condition that millions of Americans are diagnosed with. In fact, according to the Centers for DiseaseControl,approximately54.4millionU.S.adults are diagnosed with some form of arthritis each year. While it is possible for arthritis to develop in any of the joints, the lower back, hips, and knees are among the most common. If you have been living with arthritic aches and pains, contact Bay State Physical Therapy today to schedule an evaluation. Our dedicated physical therapists will assess your symptoms, discuss the impact on your daily life, and create an individualized treatment plan for your #RoadtoRecovery. What type of arthritis am I experiencing? The Arthritis Foundation states that there are over 100 different types of arthritis. However, the two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Sources:ArthritisFoundation: “What IsArthritis?”ArthritisFoundation: “ArthritisandDiseases thatAffect theBack.”
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Find Relief With Bay State Physical Therapy
GARDEN ERGONOMICS AT A GLANCE Forward Bending When reaching towards the ground, do your best to bend at the knees. If you need to bend at the waist, engage your core muscles in order to keep your lower back flat. Keep your shoulders and hips level to avoid curving your back.
Regardless of the cause of arthritis, physical therapy plays a major role in the treatmentof itssymptoms.Physical therapy should always be the first method of treatment, before resorting to more aggressive procedures, such as surgery. In many cases, physical therapy can eliminate the need for higher risk treatment methods, such as potentially addictive pain-management drugs or invasive surgical correction. If the condition is severe and surgery is required, physical therapy can also help you prepare and recover from your procedure. At Bay State Physical Therapy, we are dedicated to treating each patient with arthritis with a personalized treatment plan based on their specific needs. It is very common for the muscles that support the lower back, hips, and knees to become weakened from inactivity due to arthritis. Your physical therapist will guide you through targeted, goal- specific exercises, aimed at reducing inflammation, providing greater support to the joints, and helping your muscles regain their overall strength.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis canbothaffectbalanceandcoordination, duetothe impactthatthechanging joint surfaces have on your proprioception – the ability of the body to know where it is inspace. Ifyourbalance isaffectedby yourarthritis,thenyourphysicaltherapist will provide you with exercises aimed at decreasing your risk of falling. If you or a loved one are suffering from symptomsrelatedtoarthritis,contactBay StatePhysicalTherapytoday.Wewillget you started on a treatment plan that will help restore your mobility, comfort, and quality of life.
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Lifting When lifting lighter items, the best technique is the golfer’s lift (see image 1). When lifting heavier items, a squat is more appropriate. Once you lift the heavy object off of the ground, maintain your balance by keeping the item close to your center of gravity (see image 2). Carrying When carrying multiple items, disperse the weight evenly in each of your hands to prevent leaning to one side (see image 3).
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Improve Hip Stability Try this movement if you are experiencing hip pain.
Strengthen Hips
HIP HIKES While standing up on a step, lower one leg downward towards the floor by tilting your pelvis to the side. Then return the pelvis/leg back to a lev- eled position. Repeat 3 times.
Exercisescopyrightof Always consultyourphysical therapistorphysicianbefore startingexercisesyouareunsureofdoing.
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PAIN, SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY CLICK HERE>
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Patient Success Spotlight
Alexandra Gustafson, PT, DPT
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My interest in PhysicalTherapy school came through my love for sports. Originally, I believed I would be most interested in sports/orthopedic populations, until I was exposed to acute care. I spent my first year of professional experience in Long-Term AcuteCare (LTAC),where I learnedfrom some of the best physical therapists and people I am certain I will ever encounter.Whileat theLTAC, Iwasable to develop relationships with patients that went far beyond physical therapy. I learned how to approach the patient as a person, and understand what is meaningful for them and their lives. Through these interactions, I realized that my passions and motivations are inempoweringpatientstobecomewhat they perceive to be their best self, and help them live themostmeaningful life they can. This led me to reach out to a fewofmypeers,whoultimately ledme downaroad Iwillforeverbegratefulfor, understanding pain science. Through myownunderstandingofpainscience, and the profound impact sharing this education can have on patients, I firmly believe there is a way to restore meaning to each and every person’s life. Connecting with patients, meeting them where they are in their current lives, and supporting and empowering them to become what they are striving tobecome isat theheartofmyclinical practice. Through mentorships from experts in thefield Ihope tobeable to implement this approach and allow people to
regain their lives and flourish however they hope to. With the mentorship of Rob Melino, Managing Partner, and my fellow Physical Therapists at Bay State Physical Therapy Tewksbury, I look forward to developing my manual therapyskillsandgrowing into thebest clinician I can be for my patients in an outpatient setting. I grew up in Medford, MA, an only child with many, many cousins, with whom I am lucky to have as my closest relationships. I had incredibly supportiveparentsand familynetwork that supported me through my school and sports career. I studied Biology at Holy Cross where I competed on their Division I softball team, and I hope to somedaybecome involved in thesport of softball again. I love to exercise in manydifferentways,andmost recently have developed an interest in rock climbing. My love for sports started at the level of being an extreme Boston sports fan, which I still am to this day.
Chantelle was a patient at Bay State Physical Therapy at our West Roxbury location for three months. She reported sudden unexplained onset of increasing low back pain starting in the summer of 2018. She was unable to walk or stand for longer than 10 minutes without an increase in low back pain, and radiating symptoms down her leg. She had an MRI, revealing spinal stenosis andmilddegeneration inher lumbar spine. She tried several injections to the low back without much relief. Chantelle’s main complaints when she started physical therapy were pain, numbness, and tightness throughout the low back and into theright leg.Shereported increased difficulty and pain with walking, sitting, standing, and sleeping. Since finishing her course of care at Bay State PhysicalTherapy West Roxbury, Chantelle has decreased
pain and increased mobility, and is able to perform all of her daily activities without restriction. She reportsminimal tonopain,andonly experiences muscle fatigue and soreness after workouts. Chantelle has improved her standing posture and lifting technique, which she utilizes while working as a nanny for several families. “MeetingKathleenwasablessing in disguise. I have been dealing with lower back pain for three years, and it was becoming unbearable. I was contemplating surgery because of how much pain I was in. Kathleen educated me about physical therapyand it’sbenefits,and to try it before opting for surgery. I am now almost completely pain free. Her sweet, loving, and understanding approach to her care made me feel comfortable and understood; I almost didn’t want to be done with physical therapy.” -Chantelle
Healthy Recipe RED WHITE AND BLUE FRUIT SALAD RECIPE
INGREDIENTS • 4 large apples • 1 pound of strawberries • 1 pound blueberries • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS Wash all the produce. Use a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar, or a produce wash. Cut the apples into 1/2 inch chunks. Cut the stem end from the strawberries. When done this way, forming a V, it gives the strawberries a heart shape. Then slice the strawberries about 1/8 inch thick. Toss chopped apples with the lemon juice. Add the blueberries and sliced strawberries and toss again https://eatingrichly.com/red-white-and-blue-fruit-salad-recipe/
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