Joint Pain Can Be Frustrating – PT Could be the Answer
Find Relief for Your Chronic Joint Pain Today!
Joint pain is a common problem that can affect people of all ages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost a quarter of all American adults are living with arthritis!
Additionally, according to a recent study, an estimated 54.4 million US adults have arthritis—roughly one in every four Americans. Around 27% of those surveyed reported living with severe joint pain as an effect of arthritis.
If you are one of those people, don’t hesitate to contact Peak Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine today. It has been proven that physical therapy is a safer, more effective path toward arthritis pain management than medications or surgical procedures. Discover how physical therapy can help relieve your persistent pain!
Why should I consider physical therapy over surgery?
According to Harvard Health Publishing, “Trying physical therapy before opting for surgery may be the better choice. You may be able to spare yourself the expense, pain, and recovery time of surgery, says physical therapist Karen Weber, clinical supervisor at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Outpatient Centers in Braintree and Quincy, Mass.
There is growing evidence supporting that idea. In the past few years, studies have indicated that physical therapy is just as effective as surgery for relieving pain and restoring function for people with arthritis in their knees or backs.”
How can physical therapy help with arthritis pain?
Physical therapy is used to help people with arthritis improve their mobility. It also improves the function of affected joints, reduces pain, and strengthens the muscles that support the joints. A physical therapist will design an individualized treatment plan to improve flexibility, coordination, and strength in order to achieve maximum physical function.
For example, a physical therapist will treat arthritis with exercise and manual therapy. In order to improve joint lubrication, strengthening and weight-bearing exercises will be performed. This alleviates the pain associated with arthritis. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, research shows that individuals with arthritis can exercise without making pain worse.
A physical therapist will create a treatment plan that addresses all areas of the body that are causing pain. For example, if you have knee pain, the exercise regimen will include proper knee mechanics as well as lower back, ankle, and hip exercises. Physical therapists also use manual therapy techniques such as joint and soft tissue mobilization to treat arthritis symptoms.
Joint mobilization refers to the movement of a joint while dealing with natural resistance. This technique stretches and strengthens the tissue that surrounds the bone, thus reducing pain and increasing range of motion. Ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), cryotherapy, and heat are some other passive modalities that a physical therapist may use to treat arthritis pain.
TENS uses electrodes to distract the pain receptors from feeling pain. Ultrasound treatments emit heat to help the deep tissues of the joints. It aids in the reduction of both inflammation and pain. Cryotherapy is also used to treat inflammation and swelling. Overall, physical therapy can treat whatever arthritis symptoms you may be experiencing.
The most common types of arthritis
There are many different types of arthritis, but the most common is osteoarthritis. The cushioning surface on the bones wears away over time, resulting in bone rubbing against bone. Joint strength can deteriorate, and joint pain is frequently chronic.
According to a study on JAMA, “[rheumatoid] arthritis (RA) occurs in about 5 per 1000 people and can lead to severe joint damage and disability.” The immune system malfunctions when it comes to inflammatory arthritis. It causes inflammation in the joints and can result in joint erosion and pain. When a virus or bacteria enters the joint, it causes infectious arthritis.
Even if antibiotics are used to treat the infection, arthritis can become chronic. Metabolic arthritis is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. This can accumulate and lead to chronic joint pain.
Get started on a personalized treatment plan today
If you have arthritis, you should think about seeking the help of physical therapy. Not only is it non-invasive, but you may be able to discontinue your pain medication with natural PT treatments.
Physical therapy’s goal is to help you live an active, pain-free life. To get started, please contact Peak Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine right away!