Almost a quarter of all American adults have arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This indicates that over 54 million people suffer from stiff, achy, swollen, and aching joints on a daily basis.
If you or a loved one suffers from arthritis in the neck, back, shoulders, wrists, hips, knees, or other joints, know that you are not alone in your struggle to find true, long-lasting pain relief!
Please contact Oklahoma Hand & Physical Therapy to make an appointment with a physical therapist, and in the meantime, continue reading to learn how we can assist you!
How can a physical therapist relieve arthritis pain?
Without the use of medicines, a physical therapist can help you control and relieve your arthritis joint discomfort. Physical therapy may potentially help you avoid surgery, such as a complete knee replacement or total hip replacement, by maximizing your joint health through the following strategies.
Here are the top five things a physical therapist can do for you or a loved one who suffers from arthritis:
1. Using adaptive equipment to improve daily functions
To compensate for functional restrictions caused by arthritis and keep you safer as you go about your day, you may need adaptive equipment or another home modification item. While adaptable gadgets might be extremely cost-effective, having more of them than you need or not knowing how to utilize the ones you have properly, is pretty much a waste of time, money, and effort.
A physical therapist can show you a selection of adaptive gadgets that will help you in your daily activities. We can also ensure that you understand how to operate it properly and tweak any equipment so that it suits you properly. Custom orthotics, braces, splints, walkers, crutches, canes, bed canes, long-handled sponges or reachers, benches, and other devices may be used.
2. Teaching you therapeutic exercises and stretches
Exercise is an important part of any successful physical treatment program, especially for people with arthritis. But how can you work out if you’re in excruciating pain?
A physical therapist can teach you exercises and stretches that are appropriate for your current abilities while also managing your discomfort with other treatments. Physical therapy exercises are tailored to your specific needs, whether you want to heal tissues, reduce pain and inflammation, develop strength, improve range of motion, lessen excessive tension on an injured joint, or do all of the above.
Your physical therapist can also show you how to modify your home workout program in real-time to make you feel more successful and safe.
Remember that cardiovascular exercise, such as walking, swimming, or cycling, is one of the most effective non-pharmaceutical ways to relieve arthritis pain. Allow your physical therapist to show you how to incorporate more aerobic exercise into your everyday life in a safe manner so that you can get the most out of this healthy activity.
3. Using non-invasive pain-relief modalities
Our physical therapy team uses a range of non-invasive modalities that can enhance the healing effects of exercise and manual therapy techniques. These may include:
- Electrical stimulation, including TENS
- Cold or hot therapy, including cold packs or paraffin wax
- Cold laser therapy
- Kinesiotape
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Dry needling
4. Trying joint mobilizations techniques
Arthritis is characterized by persistent inflammation and cartilage destruction in the joints, which can result in painful bone-on-bone contact. Joint mobilizations in physical therapy can help relieve pain caused by this damage while also improving joint alignment and mechanics for longer-term comfort.
Other manual approaches, such as soft tissue massage and mobilization, may be prescribed by your physical therapist, and you may be taught self-myofascial release exercises to relieve muscular tension, break up uncomfortable scar tissue, and improve healing circulation.
5. Provide you with patient education
By increasing your awareness about anatomy, pain, body mechanics, posture, ergonomics, and other relevant information, a physical therapist can help you gain a better understanding of your experience and what you can do (or avoid) to improve your comfort and quality of life.
Are you having joint replacement surgery?
Joint replacement surgery is on the horizon for some arthritis patients. When alternative conservative therapies have been attempted, this more invasive method may be the best “last resort” option for restoring function and easing suffering.
If this is the case for you, know that physical therapy is an important part of your post-operative recovery and is frequently recommended by orthopedic surgeons. A physical therapist can teach you how to obey any activity limitations or precautions prescribed by your surgeon, in addition to assisting you through rehabilitation exercises throughout your healing stages.
We invite you to think of us if you’re preparing for or recovering from a joint replacement surgery so you can make sure your outcomes turn out well!
Is Arthritis Pain Holding You Back?
Don’t let daily struggles with arthritis pain get you down. Our physical therapy team can provide innovative, research-backed, and individualized services to ease your pain and help you achieve the things that matter to you. Contact Oklahoma Hand & Physical Therapy today to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist.