How to Stay Active While Living With Arthritis Do you ever wake up feeling as if your joints are stiff or tight? Do they ache as you get moving in the morning, becoming less painful as the day goes on? If so, this may be a sign of early-onset arthritis. This is a common ailment that many people experience, but many choose to live with their painful joints for far too long before seeking help.
If you have arthritis, you know how debilitating it can be. It affects millions of people and is the most commonly reported chronic illness across the nation. Arthritis is a disorder of the joints that causes them to become inflamed.The inflammation causes the pain and stiffness that you feel, and it can result in a loss of movement if the joints become too inflamed.There are over 100 different types of arthritis, containing monoarthritis (where only one joint is affected) and oligoarthritis (where multiple joints are affected). Some of the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, which develops from “wear and tear” of cartilage, and rheumatoid arthritis, which develops from overactive immune systems. Arthritis can hinder many qualities of life - fromwork, to hobbies, to overall mobility. Some people are so affected by arthritis that they are unable to work and have to go on disability. If you are suffering from the chronic pain of arthritis, or you think you might be, call Centra Rehab today to schedule a consultationwith one of our physical therapists. Physical therapy is a safe, healthy, and effective way to treat arthritic pain. Howdoes arthritis develop? As the most commonly experienced formof arthritis, osteoarthritis is typically easy to diagnosis. It can be caused by a sudden injury to the joint, or it can develop even if a previous injury has fully healed. For example, let’s say you were a football player in college who experienced a harsh blow to the knee. You seek treatment, recover, and return to the game. Although the injury healed in its entirety, it is still possible for you to develop osteoarthritis from it later in life. The same is true for labor-intensive careers. If you are a carpenter who swings a hammer in repetitive motions as a crucial part of the job, you may develop osteoarthritis in the joints of your elbows or hands. If you are overweight, you may also be at a higher risk for developing osteoarthritis, as additional strain is being put on your knee and hip joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is not as easily understood. It develops as an autoimmune response, meaning that the immune system sees the joints as a threat and decides to attack them. Researchers have come to believe that yourmedical history, environment, and hormones could all be contributing factors toward the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Because it is an autoimmune condition, it is common for it to affect the same joints on different sides of the body.
How can physical therapy helpme stay active? Those suffering fromarthritic pains can greatly benefit fromphysical therapy. It is possible tomaintain an active lifestyle while living with arthritis, but youmay need some assistance. Your physical therapist will conduct a physical evaluation to determine what the best course of treatment will be for you. This may include weight management to help ease some stress on your joints, as well as posture improvement to relieve stiffness and prevent injury. Strength training is also a crucial aspect of PT treatments, in order to improve the overall strength and function of the affected joint(s). Your physical therapist will guide you through gentle exercises that become more intensive as you progress in your treatments, in order to help you achieve your highest levels of physical capability. Your physical therapist will also provide specific techniques for alleviating pain, which may include thermal therapies, manual therapy, or ultrasound. Physical therapy treatments are aimed at relieving pain and reducing the amount of stress and stiffness surrounding your joints. They are meant to help you achieve your physical goals, whether that means simply managing your pain or helping you get back to running, lifting, swimming, or any other physical hobby that is being limited by your condition. If you are experiencing arthritic symptoms and you are looking to find relief, contact our office today! Our dedicated physical therapists at Centra Rehabwill be happy to help you and get you back to living your active lifestyle.
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