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NEWSLETTER Your Resource for Health, Wellness, and Caring for Your Body
WHY OSTEOARTHRITIS IS SUCH A PAIN– AND HOW PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP
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NEWSLETTER Your Resource for Health, Wellness, and Caring for Your Body INSIDE: • What Is Osteoarthritis? • 2025 Best of Loudoun • Seasonal Recipe
LOUDOUNPT.COM Leesburg: (703) 443-6700 Lansdowne: (703) 858-9880
Persistent joint pain can severely hamper your lifestyle. One of the more common causes of persistent and chronic joint pain, particularly among older people, is osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that causes joint inflammation. People with osteoarthritis (OA) will struggle with pain and stiffness in the affected joints, making it difficult to live the type of active lifestyle that could help them manage their symptoms. If you’ve been diagnosed with OA, the physical therapists at Loudoun Physical Therapy can help you better understand the condition, ensuring you get the relief you need. Call us today to learn more. What Is Osteoarthritis? Examining the Causes and Risk Factors Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the world, affecting around 3.5% of the global population–and nearly 32.5 million Americans. Its primary symptoms are joint pain and immobility; if left unaddressed, it can profoundly impact your overall quality of life. But how do you address OA, a condition with no current cure? We can start by looking at what causes the joint inflammation. The joints in your body contain two materials that help protect the bones: • Cartilage , a flexible tissue that acts as a shock absorber and prevents the bones in a joint from rubbing against each other • Synovial fluid , a substance that lubricates your joint whenever you move Osteoarthritis occurs when these materials degenerate, causing your bones to rub against each other. Without protection from cartilage and WHY OSTEOARTHRITIS IS SUCH A PAIN– AND HOW PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP
synovial fluid, basic joint movements become painful, the joint tissue becomes inflamed, and your range of motion diminishes. But what causes that degeneration? Researchers aren’t sure, but it’s tied to aging–your risk of developing osteoarthritis increases as you get older. Around 80% of people over 65 have radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis in their joints, although not all of them experience symptoms. Certain factors beyond aging can also increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis. Most of these factors contribute to the tissue degeneration that causes OA:
• Genetics
• Past injury to a joint (particularly a weight-bearing joint)
• Jobs that require repetitive squatting, bending, or twisting
• Excess weight
How Do I Know If It’s Osteoarthritis? There are many reasons someone might experience joint pain beyond osteoarthritis, so it is important to seek out an expert, such as the physical therapists at Loudoun Physical Therapy, for a diagnosis. That said, certain types of pain and other symptoms could indicate you’ve developed OA, especially if you’re over 50:
• Pain that flares up during activity but lessens with rest
• Pain when you press on the joint
BLOOM BEYOND JOINT PAIN! • Joint stiffness, particularly first thing in the morning–it’ll usually ease up after about 30 minutes • Cracking, crunching, or creaking noises in the joint (officially known as crepitus–those sounds are the bones rubbing together). When you visit us for your initial appointment, our therapists will conduct a detailed physical assessment that considers your health history, OA risk factors, and symptoms. We’ll also conduct several movement screens that test your range of motion, strength, and balance, which can help develop the best treatment plan for your needs. Movement: The Best Medicine for OA It might sound contradictory, but exercise is crucial in treating and managing osteoarthritis. Your joints want to move, and moving them regularly keeps them healthy and lubricated. For this reason, physical therapy plays a big role in helping you manage osteoarthritis, especially if you want to avoid surgery. We’ll work closely with you to develop a tailored exercise program that suits your needs and ability levels, focusing on low-impact activities like walking, biking, or swimming.
• Working with you to improve your joint’s range of motion so you can move more freely. • Helping you improve your balance and walking patterns. While OA can affect any joint, it’s most common in weight-bearing joints like the hips or knees, which make it difficult for you to move around.
• Educating you on OA and various self-management strategies
Don’t Let Osteoarthritis Cramp Your Style! Suspect you may have OA? Recently diagnosed and seeking treatment? The experts at Loudoun Physical Therapy can help. Call today to schedule your appointment!
We can also help with other areas of OA management, such as…
• Providing drug-free pain relief through manual therapy techniques.
SEASONAL RECIPE | SPRING VEGGIE TART
• 2 sheets puff pastry • 1 egg, lightly beaten • 5 oz vegetable dip • 6 baby zucchini, halved lengthwise • 3-4 yellow squash, thinly sliced with a mandoline
• 1 bunch asparagus, thinly sliced lengthwise with a mandoline
• 1 1/2 c goat cheese • Extra virgin olive oil • Balsamic vinegar glaze • Mixed herbs, to serve
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. To make tart case, place pastry sheets side by side on the lined tray. Brush egg wash along the long edge of one sheet, then overlap with the other by 1” to create a large single sheet. Fold and pinch all four sides to make a 1” border, pushing down to seal. Brush border with egg wash. Using a fork, prick the base of the tart all over. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes, until golden. Remove from oven and spread base of pastry with dip. Meanwhile, place vegetables in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over vegetables, steep for 1 min to blanch, then drain and pat dry with paper towel. Scatter vegetables over tart and crumble goat cheese on top. Drizzle with oil and vinegar glaze. Sprinkle with mixed herbs
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LOUDOUN PHYSICAL THERAPY IS UP FOR LOUDOUN’S BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL PRACTICE! Your support means the world to us! We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to serve you on your journey to wellness. If Loudoun Physical Therapy has made a positive impact on your life, we kindly ask for your vote as the best physical therapy practice. Your endorsement would mean everything to our dedicated team. Thank you for considering us for this honor. Click the button below to vote today!
Dear Valued Patients, I hope this letter finds you well. Today, I am excited to share some important news about the future of Loudoun Physical Therapy. After more than 30 incredible years serving our Leesburg and Lansdowne communities, I have made the decision to partner with PT Solutions Physical Therapy, a trusted provider within the VHC Health System. This partnership represents a new and exciting chapter, offering enhanced opportunities to serve you better. Reflecting on the past three decades, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the trust and support you have shown me and my team. Together, we have achieved countless milestones—from helping you recover from injuries and surgeries to seeing you return to the activities and lifestyles you love. It has been the honor of a lifetime to be part of your journey toward health and wellness. Through our partnership with PT Solutions, we are now able to expand our resources and provide even greater access to exceptional care. PT Solutions shares our commitment to patient-centered, compassionate care, and they bring with them advanced technology, innovative treatments, and a network of highly skilled professionals. This collaboration means we can now offer an even broader range of services and support to help you achieve your health goals. Importantly, our Leesburg and Lansdowne locations will remain open, and our dedicated team of therapists will continue to provide the personalized, high-quality care you have come to rely on. What’s more, through PT Solutions’ partnership with VHC Health, you will now have access to an expanded network of 10 additional locations across Northern Virginia—including Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Gainesville, Lake Ridge, Manassas, McLean, Potomac Yards, Tysons Corner, and Vienna. This growth ensures greater convenience and flexibility for you and your loved ones, so you can receive the care you need, when and where you need it. As we embrace this new chapter, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to you. Your resilience, determination, and optimism have inspired me daily, and I am honored to have been a part of your journey. I look forward to continuing to support you as part of the PT Solutions family and to helping you achieve your health and wellness goals in new and exciting ways. If you have any questions about this transition or how it might enhance your care, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to guide and support you every step of the way. Thank you for your loyalty, trust, and support over the past three decades. Together, we will continue to move forward, stronger than ever. With deepest gratitude, Genevieve “Genny” Griffin, PT, DPT, GCFP Loudoun Physical Therapy
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LOUDOUNPT.COM Leesburg: (703) 443-6700 Lansdowne: (703) 858-9880
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