Relieving Arthritis Pain
Are you experiencing pain in your groin or stiffness in your back? Do you find it painful to go up and down stairs? Are these symptoms making it difficult for you to go about your daily routine?
You could be suffering from osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting nearly 30 million nationwide. OA is a degenerative joint disease often described as “wear and tear” arthritis. Repetitive movement and prior injuries also contribute to the condition.
Early on, the condition most commonly is associated with stiffness and ache after prolonged rest and inactivity. As the condition advances, inflammation leads to pain and loss of motion in the joints.
While arthritis can be debilitating, there’s a lot that you can do to alleviate the pain and improve your function, joint movement, muscle strength, balance, and coordination. It’s even possible to eliminate symptoms, depending on the amount of arthritis you have.
Call our clinic today to make an appointment. With guidance from your physiotherapist, you can find solutions to your pain and get back to living the life you enjoy!
What Is Arthritis, Exactly?
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease. The main characteristic is the loss of articular cartilage and joint disability. It is known as the “wear and tear” form of arthritis. The breakdown of the cartilage affects the whole joint, causing inflammation, bone/joint structural changes, and bone spur formation.
Primary osteoarthritis has no known cause, but almost 30–65% is thought to be genetically determined. Secondary osteoarthritis mainly comes from traumatic events. Despite the differences in the causes, the two types of osteoarthritis progress in similar directions, ultimately resulting in the loss and destruction of articular cartilage.
Typical symptoms include pain, muscle weakness, joint instability, brief morning stiffness, crepitus (i.e., noises like snaps and pops), and physical inactivity.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
There is increasing evidence that different risk factors are associated with osteoarthritis, including:
- Obesity
- Genetic predispositions
- Sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., female gender, African-American race)
- Specific bone/joint shapes
There are also physical risk factors associated with increased osteoarthritis including:
- Joint injury
- Participation in certain occupational activities (i.e., repetitive movements like bending or prolonged positions like sitting/driving)
- Participation in sports (i.e. contact sports)
- Thigh flexor muscle weakness and knee osteoarthritis
- Joint malalignment
Although aging is one of the most significant risk factors for osteoarthritis, obesity is also a major contributor to developing osteoarthritis. Obese patients have extra weight on their bodies that add to cartilage breakdown.
Recent research suggests that unhealthy diets are associated with systemic inflammation. This inflammation is responsible for a 2.5-times higher likelihood of experiencing knee pain than patients with healthy weight and diets and similar cartilage damage.
However, this cycle can be broken by improving joint movement, muscle strength, balance, and coordination, reducing pain and inflammation.
How Physiotherapy Can Help Arthritis
Your physiotherapist will assess your particular condition to identify the contributing factors and address all of them. Regardless of the cause of arthritis, physiotherapy plays a significant role in treating arthritis symptoms and should be the first step.
Your therapist can educate you on how regular physical activity and individualized exercise programs can reduce your pain, prevent the condition from worsening, and improve daily function.
Physiotherapists can also help you choose healthier lifestyles for losing weight if you are overweight or obese. In addition, your PT can guide you on ways to maintain a healthy weight using diet changes and exercise.
In many cases, physiotherapy can help patients by choosing specific exercises and designing appropriate strengthening exercises that improve your function without aggravating your pain. Your therapist can help you reclaim a healthy lifestyle. From start to finish, we’re dedicated to your ongoing well-being. On every level, physiotherapy serves to enhance the patient’s quality of life.
Call Our Clinic Today
Contact one of our providers today, and tell us about your symptoms. We offer the results you are looking for!
Get Moving Again with Physiotherapy!
At South Sherbrook Therapy, we’re committed to helping you feel your best—whether you’ve been here before or it’s been a while! If you’re experiencing pain, discomfort, or simply want to get back to doing what you love, now is the perfect time to return. Book your physiotherapy appointment today and let us help you continue your journey to better health and wellness!
Feel Better by Eating Better!
Pan Seared Lemon Chicken
• 4 boneless chicken breasts, (1-1¼ pounds)
• Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 3 tsp extra-virgin olive oil, or canola oil, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons flour
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, divided
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ white onion, diced
Directions:
1. Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 1½ teaspoons oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until well browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil.
2. Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining 1½ teaspoons oil to the pan. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk broth, flour, 1 tablespoon dill and lemon juice in a measuring cup and add to pan. Cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
3. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan; reduce heat to low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a warmed platter. Season sauce with salt and pepper and spoon over the chicken. Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill.
Sleep Is the Secret Weapon for Good Health
Did you know there are numerous health benefits to getting a good night’s sleep? Adequate sleep is necessary for physical health, as it helps to restore and repair the body. It is also vital for mental health, as it helps to improve cognition, mood, and overall well-being.
Sleep plays a critical role in our brain’s function in the following ways:
- It consolidates memories and learning
- Clears waste from the brain, including the feeling of “brain fog.”
- Improves learning and creativity
- It helps to prevent cognitive decline.
Sleep also plays a significant role in the strength of our immune system to protect us from illnesses and ensure our recovery after injury.
Studies have shown that getting only 6 hours of sleep each night increases the risk of injury by up to 150%.
Sleep is the most potent tool athletes, and the majority of all people in all professions can use to minimize injury risk. Greater than stretching, strength training, and more than nutrition, and any other preventative strategy you may have heard.
Sleep also significantly impacts your metabolism and normal hormonal functioning. Lack of sleep has been linked to several health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Overall, getting a good night’s sleep is essential for maintaining physical, mental, and emotional health. It is important to prioritize sleep and get enough rest each night to experience the full range of health benefits.
