RELIEVE YOUR ARTHRITIC PAINS WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR ARTHRITIS PAIN Regardless of the cause of arthritis, physical therapy plays a significant role in treating its symptoms. Physical therapy should always be the first treatment method before resorting to more aggressive procedures, such as surgery. In most cases, physical therapy can eliminate the need for more aggressive treatments, such as harmful pain-management drugs or invasive surgical correction. If the condition is severe and surgery is required, physical therapy will help you prepare and recover from your procedure. In addition to traditional physical therapy treatments, to make sure your pain is managed, it is helpful to incorporate the following into your everyday routine: • Getting exercise. Exercise is vital for relieving pain and maintaining joint function. Cartilage receives its nutrition from joint fluid, so the more you exercise, the better. To avoid additional pressure on the affected joint(s), try non-weight-bearing exercises like aquatic exercises or bicycling. • Taking supplements. Some nutritional supplements have shown promise for relieving pain, stiffness, and other arthritis symptoms. Glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, SAM-e, and curcumin seem to help alleviate pain associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. • Avoiding processed and sugary foods. Fried foods, processed foods, and foods with high sugar content and high fat can cause inflammation in your body and negatively impact your arthritis symptoms.
Are you experiencing pain in your knees or stiffness in your back? Do you find it difficult to move the way you used to? You could be suffering from osteoarthritis. At MDM Physical Therapy, you can find solutions to your pain and get back to living the life you enjoy! Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting nearly 30 million nationwide. Signs of arthritis may include stiffness and pain with squatting, bending, or sitting too long. Pain that is worse in the morning but disappears throughout the day may also be a sign of arthritis. As the condition advances, inflammation leads to pain and loss of motion in the joints. While arthritis can be debilitating, there’s a lot that you can do to alleviate the pain and improve your function. If you are looking to manage your arthritic pains to live more comfortably, the therapists at MDM Physical Therapy can help! WHAT IS ARTHRITIS? Arthritis refers to any chronic condition that affects the joints, causing pain and inflammation. The Arthritis Foundation states that there are over 100 different types of arthritis that exist. However, the two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common, and it happens as a gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joints. This can occur from age, injury, or repetitive use of the affected joint(s). When worn down, cartilage can no longer act as a strong cushion and shock absorber for the joints, resulting in bone-on-bone friction and painful inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is the second most commonly experienced form of arthritis and develops 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 to understand rheumatoid arthritis better, many experts believe that your hormones, genes, smoking, and environment could all be contributing factors.
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