What Physical Therapy Can Do For Arthritis

Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. The most commonly affected joints are the hips, knees, hands, and spine. 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, 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 a great plan – all medications have side effects, even over-the-counter ones. Reducing activity leads to muscle atrophy and even stiffer joints. Even though joint replacement surgery usually has good outcomes, it does come with its own set of risks and a 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 base for arthritis treatment. Exercise helps to regain lost joint motion, decrease feelings of stiffness, and strengthen muscles surrounding the affected joint. These benefits are all somewhat obvious. 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 the side effects.

Physical therapy has more to offer people with arthritis than just exercise, though. Education helps people understand their condition, what to expect, and how to manage it. As experts in human movement, physical therapists 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 braces, orthotics, or other devices to help maintain mobility and reduce pain. On top of all of that, PT has been proven to be a cost-effective treatment, too.

With so many techniques that are proven effective in helping people with arthritis, physical therapy is a recommended first-line treatment for many types of arthritis. Now that you better understand what PT can do, hopefully, you’ll think of PT first when you think of arthritis too.

At Synergy Fitness for Her, we have worked with many clients of all ages to manage their arthritis symptoms and live with less pain and more mobility. Let us know if you are ready for help getting back to the activities you enjoy or if you have any questions.

For more info or to schedule, contact PT@synergyfitnessforher.com or call 919-402-0888

References:

1. Research (peer-reviewed)
   1. PT for juvenile RA – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1946625/
   1. PT for hip and knee OA – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33034560/
   1. Systematic Review for Juvenile RA – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28729171/
2. Articles and Content
   1. Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Physical Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis-  https://www.rheumatology.org/About-Us/Newsroom/Press-Releases/ID/718
   1. Can physical therapy reduce arthritis pain? – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/physical-therapy-for-arthritis