Arthritis can be painful and debilitating but with the help of physiotherapy many people find they can manage their pain and maintain their mobility and independence. Physiotherapy is a treatment method used to manage arthritis. The physical therapist works with the patient to find the root causes of their symptoms and determine how to make long-lasting changes in how they move, how they feel and how much pain they experience. In this article you'll learn about how physiotherapy can help people with arthritis manage their condition at home or prevent it from worsening.
Physiotherapy Helps Reduce Severity of Arthritis
Physiotherapy can help delay the progression of your arthritis, reduce the severity of your symptoms and prevent further problems. Physical therapy works by teaching patients how to change how they perform their daily activities at home, where they're most comfortable.
The amount of time a person spends moving determines how quickly their symptoms will increase. By retraining how a person moves, the physiotherapist aims to minimize joint pain and stiffness. That way, the person can continue doing the activities they enjoy. People with arthritis may need to be referred by their general practitioner (GP) to a local physiotherapy clinic for an initial assessment, followed by the appropriate treatment plan.
Physiotherapists Tailor Treatment for Specific Arthritis
There are many different types of arthritis, so each type of exercise and manual therapy a physiotherapist employs has to be based on the range of motion, fitness level and arthritic pain the patient complains about. A physical therapist is trained to tailor treatments to the specific condition of an individual. Physiotherapy treatment for arthritis may include:
- Massage therapy
- Exercise programs
- Hydrotherapy
- TENS and other electrotherapy
- Dry needling
Massage Helps Reduce Arthritis Inflammation
Gentle massage of the muscles around your inflamed joints helps improve blood flow, reduce pain and improve the mobility of the joints. Massage therapy is considered an important part of a physical treatment plan and it can benefit any type of inflammatory arthritis. A physical therapist uses a wide range of manipulative methods in addition to massage techniques, such as joint movement techniques and strengthening exercises, to ease the tightness in arthritic joints and achieve pain relief.
Physiotherapy Exercises for Arthritis
It's well known that exercise helps manage both acute and chronic arthritis. One of the most important things that people with arthritis can do, especially if it's an inflammatory type like rheumatoid arthritis, is exercise every day without overexerting themselves. Exercise helps maintain healthy joints as it reduces stress on bones and joints, which may lead to joint damage. Most importantly, exercising regularly will give you a better quality of life by giving you more energy and making you feel better overall.
But when you're in pain, exercising can seem overwhelming. A physiotherapist will give you a specific exercise plan that is designed to strengthen the muscles around the joints and ensure your joints move as freely as possible. They will also advise you on how to perform other exercises safely so that you don't aggravate your arthritis or worsen your inflamed joints. A physical therapy exercise doesn't have to be strenuous. Walking, mobility exercises and using an exercise bike are all gentle ways to get your daily workout.
Hydrotherapy Helps Arthritis
Your physiotherapist may also suggest hydrotherapy (exercising in warm water). Hydrotherapy is highly beneficial for arthritis as the water cushions the joints from harsh jolts and allows you to build strength and flexibility.
Electrotherapy Eases Arthritis Pain
Electrotherapy, including TENS, is another form of physical therapy treatment that helps manage arthritis by sending small electrical impulses to certain parts of the body to block pain signals reaching the brain. Electrotherapy also encourages the production of endorphins and you may find it very effective in helping reduce arthritic pain.
Dry Needling for Arthritis
Dry needling is a term used by physiotherapists and other western practitioners. It is similar to acupuncture. Your physiotherapist may use dry needling in conjunction with other treatments to ease your arthritis symptoms.
Hot Packs & Cold Therapy
When combined, hot and cold packs are beneficial treatments for arthritis that speed up the healing process. A cold treatment reduces inflammation and swollen joints caused by tissue injuries, while heat therapy can treat muscle spasms, hence reducing pain and increasing range of motion.
Physiotherapists are trained to tailor treatment for many types of arthritis. Treatment usually includes massage, electrotherapy and specific exercises. Physical therapy programs can help you manage your arthritis, improve your mobility and maintain your independence.
If you have arthritis or are concerned about how your joints feel, seeing a physiotherapist is an important way of managing how your body feels overall. The initial assessment will enable you to learn how your condition developed and how you can manage your movements using the effective treatments recommended by your physiotherapist. So why wait, find a physiotherapist in your local area.
You can also check out other effective natural treatments for arthritis.
Originally published on Aug 05, 2011
