Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. It can cause pain, stiffness and swelling. The hips, knees, hands and spine are the most commonly affected joints. Arthritis is not a single disease, but an umbrella term that includes a variety of different types. Some of the more common examples are osteoarthritis (the most common form), rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
While physical therapy might not be the first treatment you think of for arthritis, it probably should be. A lot of people with arthritis 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. But this isn’t such a great plan. All medications have side effects, even over the counter ones. Reducing activity leads to muscle atrophy and even stiffer joints. Despite the advancement in joint replacements, these procedures are still major surgery and come with their own set of risks and painful recovery.
Physical therapy has been extensively researched as a treatment for arthritis and demonstrates good outcomes. Physical therapists typically start with exercise as the basis for arthritis treatment. Exercise helps to regain lost joint motion, relieves stiffness and strengthens muscles that support arthritic joints. 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 any side effects.
Physical therapy has more to offer people with arthritis than just exercise however. Education helps people understand their condition, what to expect and how to manage their symptoms. As experts in human movement, PT’s 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 or other devices that can help maintain mobility and reduce pain. On top of all of that, PT has also been proven to be the most cost effective treatment for arthritis.
Hopefully you now have a better understanding of what PT can do for you and you will think of PT when you think about how to treat your arthritic symptoms.