Arthritis Pain Archives - Washington Physical Therapy

Ready to Relieve Pain the Natural Way? Say Goodbye to Drugs with PT

Kick Pain Management Drugs to the Curb Today!

The world we live in today is heavily medicated. Go to any grocery store or pharmacy and you'll find countless over-the-counter drugs. Doctors also consistently prescribe more extreme pain relievers, including opioids that have been widely abused over the years. Drug abuse is everywhere, and it is an ongoing battle that patients are constantly fighting.

If you've ever experienced an injury, you know it can turn your everyday life upside down. If it's a car accident, a sports-related injury, a workplace injury, or even an unintentional fall, the pain from a sudden injury can make you feel helpless. To fight this, many people resort to pain-relieving medications, such as opioids. However, what many people don't know is how much more damage these drugs do to their body than they realize.

If you're struggling with chronic pain but don't want to pump your body full of addictive drugs, you'll be delighted to discover a better, safer alternative: physical therapy. Physical therapy is a natural and effective approach to chronic pain that can make you feel better in the long-term. Let's look at how this kind of natural treatment will boost your quality of life!

You can choose the natural path to pain relief!

Your physical therapist is going to show you what to do but they don't have to do all the work! In order for physical therapy to be effective for you, you have to make an effort.

Our physical therapists here will take the time to teach you about your pain and the value of maintaining your stretches and workouts at home for long-term relief.

However, at the end of the day, you make the decision to completely partake in your journey to get rid of pain!

How can a physical therapist help relieve my pain?

Because everybody is different, and the pain levels of everyone are different, physical therapy procedures must be as well! Depending on your particular condition, your physical therapy pain treatment strategy may be different from anyone else's.

Your doctor might decide to use massage therapy, heat, ice, ultrasound, or other therapies to relieve your pain and speed up the healing process if you are dealing with pain from a recent injury.

If you are able to get up and exercise comfortably, a physical therapist will recommend simple stretching, walking, swimming, or cycling to assist with the mobilization process.

These kinds of physical therapy are excellent for helping to restore mobility to soft tissues, allowing them to function more freely and comfortably. They are also excellent at keeping arthritic joints mobile and lubricated.

Strengthening exercises can repair and rehabilitate weakened muscles to avoid causing pain. Physical therapy often includes certain exercises to help strengthen your posture, balance, and gait.

Why YOU should choose physical therapy

If you keep up with the news on a daily basis, you’ve most likely heard about the dangers of opioids. These narcotics, which include both illegal drugs and prescription medication, are the cause for at least 115 overdose deaths in America every single day.

The APTA states that clinicians “[…] should consider opioid therapy only if expected benefits for both pain and function are anticipated to outweigh risks to the patient." Opioids are extremely powerful and can interact with other drugs in a dangerous way. They also lead to abuse and addiction as well.

Steroids are another dangerous class of prescription medication, and pose many risks and dangers to your health. Epidural steroid injections are used to relieve pain, but can cause arthritis in the hips, cataracts, stomach ulcers, elevated blood sugar, and nerve damage stemming from the injection itself.

Even ordinary NSAIDs such as ibuprofen are capable of causing liver problems and bleeding in the stomach, which is worrisome, because many people who don’t even have chronic injuries use these daily.

Physical therapy can prevent you from having to deal with all of these unpleasant side effects. Some cases of severe discomfort might still require you to take medication, but physical therapy helps plenty of patients decrease -- or even eliminate -- their dependence on pain medication.

Our physical therapists will use a combination of treatment techniques to help get your pain condition under control, no matter if it’s from an acute injury, or a wound from a recent surgery.

Physical therapy is a good option for you especially if you’re looking for ongoing chronic pain management that doesn’t include constant drug usage, or if you’re already on other essential medications and you’re worried about how they will interact with your pain meds.

Ready to get started?

It should be clear now that opioids and over-the-counter medications are not the only choice for pain relief.

There are a variety of treatment services available to you via physical therapy. Our therapists are here, waiting for your call!

Contact Washington Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation today to learn more about our natural options and get back to a drug-free, pain-free lifestyle.

Source:

https://www.apta.org/apta-magazine/2018/10/01/moving-away-from-opioid-reliance

Physical Therapy for Non-Pharmaceutical Arthritis Pain Management

Stiffness and discomfort don’t have to be a part of our daily lives — and yet many people assume that they’re doomed to suffer from arthritis pain. If you’ve been losing more and more of your mobility and productivity due to chronic joint inflammation, you may be disappointed by the usefullness of painkilling drugs or even alarmed by the potential dangers of such drugs. Fortunately, you have a safer, more effective path toward arthritis pain management: physical therapy.

How and Why Arthritis Causes Pain and Stiffness

Arthritis includes an entire family of painful joint conditions. For some individuals, it may take the form of painful gout in a toe joint; in others, it can strike due to a bacterial joint infection. The majority of arthritis suffers, however, suffer from one of two agonizing conditions:

Osteoarthritis – This most common form of arthritis is usually a natural consequence of a lifetime of joint motion, coupled with certain changes that take place during aging. Healthy joints contain not only a lubricating fluid to keep the bone ends moving smoothly, but also a layer of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber and anti-friction component. Over time, however, the production of lubricating fluid can start to dry up, while the cartilage becomes thinner and more worn until it finally breaks down completely. This leaves you with pain, stiffness, and inflammation that usually feels worse whenever you try to move or put weight on the joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis – This form of arthritis is caused by an auto-immune disease or dysfunction. The same protective mechanisms that normally fight off disease germs decide to turn on your joints, treating them as the enemy and attacking them. This results in painful inflammation that may come and go, leaving joint swelling and deformity in its wake.

Many arthritis sufferers naturally turn to medication in the hopes that it will ease their symptoms. NSAIDs, steroids and (and in the most severe cases) opioid drugs may produce such relief, but only temporarily. These drugs can’t address the physical problems that actually cause your symptoms; they can only mute the symptoms themselves. What’s more, painkilling and anti-inflammatory drugs can pose significant risks if they’re used constantly. NSAIDs can damage the internal organs, while steroids may contribute to everything from cataracts to osteoporosis. Opioids can be extremely dangerous, not only because of their addictive properties but also because overdoses can (and often do) prove fatal.

Our Physical Therapist Can Develop Customized Pain Management Plans

If you want an arthritis pain management plan that improves your health without presenting you with the dangers of drugs, turn to physical therapy. Our physical therapist can examine your joints to see how advanced your arthritis has become and how it may be affecting your stance, gait or mobility. You’ll then receive a customized pain management plan that may include:

Exercise – Exercise can aid arthritis sufferers by boosting circulation, easing inflammation, strengthening joint tissues and increasing range of motion. It can help you improve your balance, if that’s become a problem for you.
Physiotherapy techniques – You may benefit from massage therapy, cold/heat therapy or laser therapy.
Corrective devices – Your physical therapist can recommend specialized insoles and train you in the use of devices such as walkers or canes.
Lifestyle guidance – Your physical therapist can recommend specific changes to your everyday ergonomics or lifestyle that will ease your pain.

Don’t just numb your arthritis pain — manage it the smart, safe, effective way. Contact our physical therapy clinic today!

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Find Help for Your Arthritis Pains Today

If you have arthritis pain, then you know all about the difficulties with moving and functioning in daily life that it can present. What you might not know, however, is that physical therapy can help you find relief from your arthritis pain. There is no cure for arthritis, but by using the exercises and techniques that your physical therapist can teach you, the onset of arthritis can be slowed and you will experience less pain overall. Those are some great reasons to schedule a physical therapy appointment today.

How Physical Therapy Can Help with Arthritis

Arthritis attacks the joints of the body, so the goal of physical therapy will be to restore the use of those joints and improve your ability to move around and engage in daily activities. This will be achieved through a combination of exercise to strengthen the support structures around the joints and teaching you how to move and engage in activities without worsening your symptoms. The exact course of treatment that your physical therapist will prescribe will depend on how advanced your arthritis is and which parts of the body are impacted.

The physical exercises your therapist will teach you will be directed toward improving your mobility, range of motion, flexibility and coordination. Additional treatments for your arthritis may include:

Posture: Your therapist will teach you various body mechanic techniques that will improve joint function and reduce pain. You will also be taught ways to use your strongest muscles and joints to relieve pressure on arthritic joints.
Education: Sometimes arthritis in the hip or knee will require the use of assistive mobility devices, such as a cane or walker. Your physical therapist will teach you the proper way to use these devices.
Treatments: Modern physical therapy has a broad range of treatment options available to assist with arthritis pain. Hot and cold therapy can relieve the pain and stiffness in joints; braces or splints can help to stabilize and support arthritic joints; shoe inserts can relieve arthritis pain in the lower extremities; and so on.
Environment Modifications: Your physical therapist can make specific recommendations for additional therapeutic aids based on your type of arthritis. These can include ergonomic furniture or cushioned mats in areas of your home or at work where you tend to stand on your feet for long periods of time.

Here’s What a Physical Therapy Session Looks Like

Physical therapy visits are often short in duration. Your therapist will be focused on spotting problems with your physical function that are related to the arthritis, and teaching you methods you can employ at home to relieve pain. The way to actually achieve pain relief from your arthritis is to keep up with the teachings for the long term. The improvement will be gradual, so it’s important that you follow your physical therapist’s instructions.

In order to help your physical therapist to provide you with the best advice possible, think carefully about different physical goals that you might have. For example, you might want to be able to do your daily job without straining your hips or knees, to reach things high up on a kitchen shelf, or to simply get in and out of your car without pain. Expressing these goals to your therapist will aid in ensuring that your treatments are as specific to your goals as possible.

Your physical therapy sessions probably won’t need to be done on a weekly basis. Once every few weeks to monitor your condition and progress should be sufficient. If you are ready for relief from arthritis pain, call our office to schedule your first appointment with a physical therapist.

Find Help for Your Arthritis Pains Today

Do you feel like the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz, barely able to move thanks to stiff, painful joints? Does arthritis pain prevent you from going about your daily activities and living the life you want to live? Believe it or not, those painful joints may bother you less once you start using them more. Physical therapy can provide a number of benefits, from wider range of motion to greater joint strength and stability — without the risks and side effects of anti-inflammatory medications. Our physical therapist will be happy to help you conquer your arthritis pain, so contact Washington Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Kirkland, WA today!

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis can prove as confusing as it is painful, partly because there are so many possible causes of joint pain and inflammation — over 100 of them, according to the CDC. Conditions ranging from uric acid accumulation to bacterial infection can inflame and damage the body’s various joints. The usual symptoms include swollen, stiff joints that cause pain either constantly or with joint motion.

Causes and Symptoms of Arthritis

The two chief types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis typically occurs as the end result of many years of ordinary joint usage, although it can also develop more quickly in association with an injury or extreme joint wear. The cartilage that normally permits smooth, friction-free motion within the joint grows thin and breaks up, while at the same time, the joint may start producing less and less of its own natural lubricant fluid. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to occur in periodic flare-ups instead of causing constant pain and deterioration. In this form of arthritis, an immune system reaction attacks the joint components as if they were foreign invaders.

The classic symptoms of arthritis vary according to what type of arthritis you have. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can cause joint pain, swelling, redness and deformation. But rheumatoid arthritis may be accompanied by additional symptoms such as fever, weight loss, weakness and fatigue. It also tends to come and go in acute episodes, while osteoarthritis is more of a constant, progressively worsening presence in your life.

How Physical Therapy Helps Arthritis Pain

If you’re struggling to use your hands, turn your head, or walk even short distances without pain, you might be understandably hesitant to use those arthritis-ridden joints at all. But the truth is that regularly flexing your joints and exercising your body can help you feel and move better. Research indicates that exercise can reduce the pain experienced by arthritis suffers. Based on your particular condition and type of arthritis, our physical therapist may recommend the following kinds of physical therapy exercises:

Flexibility exercises – These exercises are designed to help you increase your pain-free range of motion. They can be as simple as arm raises or shoulder rolls.
Strength-building exercises – Gentle, careful weight training, as prescribed by our physical therapist, can lend extra stability to your joints, helping your muscles and connective tissues assume more of the joints’ burden.
Aerobic exercises – Aerobic exercises boost your circulation. This increase in circulation supports joint tissue health while helping inflammatory substances and excess fluids to exit the joints.

If your weight-bearing joints make walking too painful to contemplate, our physical therapist may prescribe water walking instead. Standing in a water-filled pool reduces the amount of weight your joints must support, allowing you to exercise more easily and comfortably.

Looking for a powerful, drug-free way to ease your arthritis pain? Contact Washington Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Kirkland, WA to schedule an appointment!

The Drug-Free Way to Treat Your Arthritic Pains

Arthritis refers to the pain associated with moving joints. It may result from a variety of factors, including genetics and lifestyle habits, and millions of people turn to medications for managing the pain. However, arthritic pain is susceptible to much more than just medications. Drug-free strategies to reduce arthritic pain rely on a person’s five senses to combat the effects of arthritis, including anxiety surrounding pain, reports the Arthritis Foundation. While medication treatment may be available, those with arthritis will benefit from the use of non-medication approaches to managing symptoms, and they should speak with an expert, such as a physical therapist at Washington Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, to discuss drug-free strategies to reduce its impact.

Think About the Good Times.

Simply spending time reviewing a photo album and connecting happy memories with images has a powerful effect on the mind and body. It provides a short-term escape from the trials of life today. Go throw an old photo book when the pain begins to impact your day.

Leverage the Power of Nature.

Sunlight aids the body in metabolizing vitamin D. This vitamin is responsible for bone health and the proper function of the immune system. Since arthritis involves the deterioration of the musculoskeletal system, getting enough vitamin D is crucial to keeping it at bay. Furthermore, sunshine triggers the release of serotonin in the brain, boosting mood and acting as a natural painkiller, notes the Arthritis Foundation.

Make Healthier Food Choices.

Depending on the type of arthritis, dietary improvements may benefit the condition. As explained by the National Institutes of Health, treatment for rheumatoid arthritis combined with improved dietary choices increases the chances of remission. Furthermore, a healthier diet offers advantages in other areas of health. For example, foods rich in antioxidants, such as dark chocolate, may reduce risk for cardiovascular disease and improve mood, reports EatingWell. It leads back to better management of pain.

Consider the Use of Non-Traditional Therapies, Such as Yoga or Meditation.

Non-traditional means of treating health conditions, including yoga and guided medication, have a history of improving arthritis pain. Yoga and medication help a person relax, says the Mayo Clinic, reducing the sense of pain.

Maintain a Healthy Weight.

Excess weight places an extra burden on the body, and for those living with arthritis, extra weight amounts to more pain. However, any exercise regimen should be under the supervision of a primary care physician and trained experts, such as occupational and physical therapists.

Work With Occupational and Physical Therapists to Avoid Unnecessary Injury.

Occupational therapy focuses on fine motor movements, such as those used to hold a fork during meals. Physical therapy takes a whole-body approach to understanding the exact motions of joints and how to move them without causing pain. The Mayo Clinic continues with how the right combination of lifestyle choices and therapy may reduce pain and improve range of motion.

Leverage the Power of Physical Therapy and Alternatives to Medications at Last.

Arthritis affects the lives of more than 31 million Americans, and that statistic will double to more than 78 million by 2040, says the Arthritis Foundation. All races, genders and ages may develop arthritis, and while medication treatment may help, it is far from the sole solution. Stop treating your pain with NSAIDs and other medications alone, and take advantage of an alternative, such as physical therapy, instead. Request a consultation with a physical therapist at our location in Kirkland, WA online today.

Arthritis Pain Sufferers- This Blog is for You!

Arthritis is a joint disorder, which features inflammation, pain and stiffness. There is also often a loss in movement with arthritis, as the joints are too inflamed to move. When only a single joint is involved it’s known as monoarthritis. If two or three joints are involved it’s referred to as oligoarthritis. To date there are over 100 types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs due to wear and tear of the cartilage and rheumatoid arthritis results from an overactive immune system. Arthritis is the most common chronic illness in the nation. Many people cannot work due to arthritis and have to go on disability. And it affects men, women and children. Arthritic pain can impede one’s mobility and quality of life. If you suffer from arthritic pain be sure to call Washington Physical Therapy & Rehab to schedule an appointment with our physical therapist. Physical therapy for arthritic pain has been proven by research to be highly effective.

Diagnosing Arthritis and Getting Treatment

Your doctor will examine your joints for deformity and inflammation, look for signs of disease and review your history of symptoms. Blood tests, urine tests, x-rays or joint fluid tests may be ordered. Early diagnosis can prevent disability and irreversible damage. Exercise routines, medications, rest and physical therapy may be recommended. A physical therapist can provide properly guided exercise regimens. It’s important that you do the proper, safe exercises to avoid injury.

The Role of Physical Therapy for Arthritis

Physical therapy is all about engaging in physical activity and exercise. “Physical activity is essential to optimizing both physical and mental health and can play a vital role in the management of arthritis. Regular physical activity can keep the muscles around affected joints strong, decrease bone loss and may help control joint swelling and pain. Regular activity replenishes lubrication to the cartilage of the joint and reduces stiffness and pain. Exercise also helps to enhance energy and stamina by decreasing fatigue and improving sleep. Exercise can enhance weight loss and promote long-term weight management in those with arthritis who are overweight.”

Arthritis pain can be miserable and debilitating for those who suffer from it, and unfortunately, there is no cure for it. A physical therapist will custom tailor a therapeutic exercise program to help mobility and strength. A physical therapist will create a treatment program that addresses all areas of the body. For example, if you suffer from arthritis pain in the knee an exercise program will address the lower back, hip and ankle, in addition to the knee. That’s because all of these areas contribute to proper knee control and mechanics. Carrying objects, lifting and squatting may also be a part of the treatment plan.

Physical therapy also consists of manual therapy. It has been proven that joint and soft tissue mobilization help patients suffering from arthritis pain. Deep tissue massage, TENS, ice packs and heat therapy may also be part of the treatment plan by a physical therapist. All of these treatments are passive modalities that increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, reduce pain and enhance mobility. All around, physical therapy is an effective, noninvasive method for arthritis pain. Plus, you won’t have to rely on those pain meds, which can lead to addiction.

If you’re suffering from arthritis pain, be sure to schedule an appointment with one of our certified physical therapists. Our research-driven treatments will help you get fast pain relief. Get your life back on track with treatment from our Washington Physical Therapy & Rehab physical therapists in Kirkland, WA. Our physical therapy team is your partner in getting you well and committed to your success.

Treating Arthritis Pain Without The Meds

Arthritis is a catch-all term used to describe more than 100 different kinds of joint pain and joint disease. While arthritis is commonly believed to be a condition that afflicts the elderly, the reality is that it can strike people in early middle age. In fact, elite male athletes are more likely to develop arthritis than the general public. Arthritis medications and pain medicines can cause some nasty side effects. So, if you’re looking for a natural treatment for arthritis, consider meeting with a Washington Physical Therapy & Rehab physical therapist at our office to learn how you can kick the meds and reduce your arthritis symptoms.

What Is Arthritis?

Osteoarthritis: The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. This is caused by a reduction in joint cartilage as it wears away through age or “wear and tear.” This causes bones to rub together, which leads to pain and swelling. Physical therapy can often help to reduce arthritis pain without medication, especially if the arthritis is mild to moderate.

Inflammatory Arthritis: In certain cases, the body’s immune system will attack joint tissues with intense inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is one example of this type of condition. Inflammatory arthritis often has a genetic cause, and doctors usually treat it aggressively with drugs. However, depending on the severity of symptoms, physical therapy may be recommended for treatment as well.

Metabolic Arthritis: The most common type of metabolic arthritis is gout, a condition caused by uric acid crystals building up in the joints of the extremities, especially the feet. It’s typically caused by reduced kidney function. Physical therapy can help gout patients restore range of motion in the affected area and even reduce the buildup of the acidic crystals that accumulate in the joints.

Arthritis in Athletes

According to a study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, about 30 percent of elite male athletes who engage in contact sports such as football will develop arthritis in the knees and hips. That’s compared to about 19 percent of the general public. The wear and tear on the joints that results from high-contact sports increases the likelihood of developing arthritis. Soccer and handball players were found to be twice as “at risk” of arthritis later in life, and hockey players are three times as likely to develop arthritis.

Arthritis Medications

Depending on the type of arthritis that a person has, doctors may prescribe NSAID pain relievers, corticosteroids, antirheumatic drugs or antibiotics. All of these carry a risk of side effects, and some can be extremely serious. NSAIDs can lead to an increased risk of blood clots, heart attack or stroke. Corticosteroids can contribute to cataracts, cause high blood sugar levels or even contribute to bone loss — which is terrible when you consider that the patient is already dealing with arthritis!

Physical Therapy for Arthritis

The goals when working with a physical therapist for arthritis treatment will include preserving a good range of motion, increasing strength to reduce stress on the joints, and other natural treatment options. Here are some of the benefits of working with our physical therapists:

Your physical therapist will work with you to control your weight through exercise and diet. Controlling your weight helps to prevent added stress on weight-bearing joints.
Posture work will help to reduce stress on your joints.
Light exercises and stretching will help to increase range of motion in the affected areas.
Your physical therapist will also recommend a schedule for rest and sleep to complement your exercises. This helps the body to heal and hopefully reduce arthritic inflammation and pain.

Every treatment regimen is different based on your body’s needs and your particular type of arthritis. The best way to get started on a med-free treatment through physical therapy is by calling and scheduling an appointment with one of our Kirkland, WA therapists.

Tips to Treat Your Arthritis Pain

If you are like the one in four American adults who suffer from arthritis symptoms, you are looking for options for managing the day to day aches and pains and often debilitating loss of mobility. Fortunately, there are many things you can do that, when combined with physical therapy, can improve your strength, increase your flexibility and help you manage your arthritis symptoms. While these tips are helpful, they work best when paired with professional treatment, call Washington Physical Therapy and Rehab today to learn how we can help you live pain-free!

Weight Loss

Since many arthritis symptoms are exacerbated by obesity, weight loss is one of the most effective ways to manage those symptoms without medication. Fortunately, physical therapists are adept at creating weight loss or weight maintenance programs that take pressure off of your joints and increase blood flow for nutrient delivery throughout your entire body.

Time for New Shoes

Many people overlook the effects of footwear on arthritis of the knee. Whether it is special purchasing special footwear or adding insoles or orthotics into your existing shoes, this simple fix can help immediately relieve the pressure on the weight-bearing joints of your lower body. As an added bonus, the correct footwear makes it easier to walk or exercise without pain.

Hot & Cold, Hot & Cold

When it comes to arthritis, temperature matters. Many people discover that a warm bath or heat pack helps ease arthritis aches and pains. Others find that cold packs applied on a regular basis reduce swelling in the joints and relieve discomfort. Alternating between the two has been shown to provide the soothing comfort of heat with the anti-inflammatory properties of cold. However, it is important to consult with a medical professional about the proper procedures for applying both heat and cold in order to avoid skin irritation.

Exercise

As tempting as it is to “rest” when you are uncomfortable, there is nothing better for managing arthritis than exercising on a regular basis. However, many people are reluctant to begin an exercise program with arthritis for fear of injuring themselves. Physical therapy can not only help you discover the exercise program that is right for your condition, it can provide you with a long-term solution to your arthritis symptoms. Your physical therapist will show you proper technique, a variety of exercises and how to wear appropriate accessories like braces or wraps if necessary.

Arthritis should not stop you from living the life you deserve. The combination of physical therapy, a weight loss program, heat and cold, and footwear can help you manage your day-to-day discomfort for the rest of your life. Contact Washington Physical Therapy and Rehab today to get started on your personalized physical therapy program and start enjoying a symptom-free life!

Arthritis Pain Sufferer? Find Out How to Stop the Pain & Get Relief

Arthritis pain is a common and growing problem for many Americans today. According to recent statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), osteoarthritis (OA), is the most common type of arthritis and now afflicts at least 13.9% of the adult population, aged 25 or older. OA and other types of arthritis are serious degenerative diseases, characterized by the wearing away of joint cartilage over time. As the cartilage wears away, the affected joint experiences pain and damage when unprotected bone surfaces rub together. This damage leads to:

poor tissue strength
inflammation
bone spurs
pain
muscle weakness
joint flexibility issues
mobility issues

Because this type of arthritis causes physical changes in the cartilage, joints and bones, it can cause debilitating pain, along with stiffness and swelling that can make normal activities painful and difficult. As a degenerative disease, osteoarthritis is implicated in more than 47% of the total arthritis-related hospitalizations due to arthritis, many of which involve joint replacement procedures to help relieve symptoms.

What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Arthritis?

Many people begin experiencing symptoms of arthritis years before being formally diagnosed and attempt to treat these early symptoms through over-the-counter drugs, massage and herbal remedies. By failing to seek medical treatment and physical therapy early, more damage results and the arthritis symptoms continue to worsen. Common early symptoms often include:

experiencing pain when performing normal daily activities
experiencing stiffness or a limited range of motion
unexplained swelling or tenderness
balance issues
intermittent pain
difficulties in completing normal daily tasks, such as dressing, lifting household items and work-related activities

What Can Arthritis Sufferers Do to Lessen the Pain and Improve Quality of Life?

Since arthritis pain often flares in response to stress and exertion, arthritis sufferers can help prevent painful flare-ups by:

using care and proper techniques when lifting heavy objects, such as flexing the knees and using both hands to lift, instead of just one
doing frequent stretches to help keep joints supple and flexible
exercising to strengthen the muscles that help to support and protect the affected joints
drink enough water daily to ensure that the body’s tissues, joints and cartilage remain properly hydrated
avoid eating foods that are known to cause inflammation, such as soft drinks, fried foods, sweets, processed foods and salty snacks
have arthritis pain medically evaluated and treated, instead of relying on increasing amounts of OTC pain relievers which can have serious side effects
consider physical therapy to increase mobility and decrease pain before symptoms become debilitating

How Can Physical Therapy Help With Arthritis Pain?

When arthritis pain strikes, people often unconsciously adjust or make small, but important changes in the way they move to avoid or lessen the pain and discomfort. Joints and muscles that are not used as fully may then become even stiffer and more inflamed, creating a vicious circle of pain that further aggravates and increases the arthritis symptoms.

Physical therapists are specifically trained to understand the way each bit of human cartilage, bone and muscle are designed and how to help them work more smoothly to relieve arthritis pain, stiffness and swelling. High quality physical therapy administered by trained professionals helps arthritis sufferers improve muscle strength, increase joint mobility and maintain joint health. To find out more about how physical therapy can help you lessen arthritis pain and increase your mobility, as well as get answers to specific questions about arthritis and the effects it has on the human body, contact Washington Physical Therapy today. Our goal is to increase your quality of life!

How to Treat Arthritis Pain

You have more options than ever for the day to day aches and pains of arthritis inå the current generation of medicine. When combined with professionally monitored physical therapy, you can use all of the following tips to relieve the symptoms of arthritis while improving the strength and the mobility of your muscles.

A Program of Weight Loss

In many cases, arthritis is either caused or exacerbated by the condition of obesity. Your physical therapy will certainly include a program of weight loss or maintenance so that you can take the pressure off of your joints and free up the flow of blood and nutrients to your entire body.

Changing Your Footwear

It is especially important to note your footwear if you have arthritis of the knee. Your medical professional should be able to suggest special footwear or insoles that will help to relieve the immediate pressure of arthritis on your lower body weight bearing joints and improve your walking at the same time.

One of the most important suggestions to consider if it is given is a knee brace. Osteoarthritis that occurs with knee instability is one of the more debilitating and aggravating conditions that can be caused by the arthritis condition. You will also reduce your risk of further injury by falling if you correct your walking patterns with a knee brace.

Using Heat and Cold to Your Advantage

There are many ways to use variable temperatures to your advantage when it comes to arthritis. Something as simple as a warm bath or the use of a heat pack will give you relief of arthritis pain over time; however, other people may find that relief from cold packs. You may be able to reduce your pain even more by alternating the two. Your medical professional will be able to properly guide you through the trial and error to give you the solution that is best for you.

Exercise

Nothing is better for an arthritis program than to change your life by exercising on a consistent basis. Overall, any physical therapy program is meant to change your lifestyle, not provide a short term solution. Your physical therapist will be able to help you with the technique of exercising, but it is up to you to do those exercises every day once you have been taught.

An exercise program that is properly implemented will help you to reduce the pain of arthritis while improving your muscular strength, helping to reduce the instance of arthritis in the future.

A Strong Self Management Program

Your professional therapy program will equip you with ongoing techniques and new habits that you should put to work for yourself in your every day life. However, you must keep your eyes open and listen for the techniques that work for you. Take physical notes during the process.

Do not let arthritis stop you from enjoying life. We can help you develop a plan that you can take on consistently. You will be able to reduce your day to day pain and develop habits that will improve your body overall, not just relieve symptoms. Please contact Washington Physical Therapy as soon as you can so that we can get started on your program. We have answers for you; all that we really need is your permission to get started!

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