Manage Your Arthritic Pains Once And For All With Physiotherapy
Do you experience stiff and achy joints when you wake up in the morning? Does that pain seem to disappear as you move throughout the day? Are your joints sensitive and painful to the touch? Do you hear “popping” or “clicking” sounds when moving the affected joint(s)? If you can relate to these issues, you may be living with arthritis.
Arthritis is an extremely common condition to develop. Many people wait until their arthritis becomes severe before seeking the help of a physiotherapist, but South Sherbrook Therapy can help you before it reaches that point!
Physiotherapy is extremely beneficial for arthritis sufferers, as it not only relieves pain but also decreases the risk of sustaining an arthritis-related injury. Contact our Winnipeg, MB physiotherapy office today at 204-774-9903 or click here to request an appointment and discuss how our treatment plans can help manage your arthritic pains, once and for all.
The two most common types of arthritis:
Osteoarthritis, the most commonly experienced type of arthritis, is fairly easy to diagnose. There are a couple of different ways in which osteoarthritis can develop, such as a sudden injury, or with gradual “wear and tear” over time.
Sometimes, osteoarthritis can even develop from a seemingly healed injury. Imagine this: you were a football player in school who experienced a harsh knee collision during a game. You get treated for the injury, recover, and return to your sport. However, you continue to notice the lingering pains of your knee injury, even after your football career ends. After an injury heals, it is still possible for arthritis to eventually develop in that affected area – especially if it still experiences the same repetitive overuse after the fact.
This can also be said for labor-intensive careers. Let’s say you’re a carpenter or roofer, whose job requires the repetitive swinging of tools. This puts your joints at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life.
Rheumatoid arthritis, the second most commonly experienced type of arthritis, is not as well understood as osteoarthritis. Referred to as “inflammatory arthritis,” it develops as an autoimmune response, resulting in painful inflammation. If you are living with rheumatoid arthritis, it means that your immune system sees your joints as a threat and subsequently decides to attack them.
Research for the causes of rheumatoid arthritis is still ongoing; however, several experts have come to believe that one’s hormones, medical history, and environment could all be contributing factors to the development of this condition. Since it develops as an autoimmune response, it is also common for the same joints to be affected on both sides of the body.
Understanding the symptoms of arthritis:
The Arthritis Foundation states that approximately 50 million people live with arthritis. Because of this, it is important to understand the symptoms associated with it.
Osteoarthritis wears down the joints. This can be due to the natural deterioration of age, or from repetitive overuse as mentioned earlier. When this happens, the cartilage within the joints no longer acts as a cushion and shock absorber, resulting in the bones rubbing together. This causes mild to severe pain, in addition to tight and sore joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis can cause pain and swelling, and in severe cases may lead to joint deformity or bone erosion. This leads to weakness, stiffness, tenderness, or “pins and needles” sensations.
The daily life of someone living with arthritis can be greatly limited without the help of physiotherapy. Arthritis can make it difficult to work, exercise, and do the activities you love.
Find pain relief for arthritis today:
Physiotherapy can benefit anyone who is suffering from the aches and pains of arthritis. At your initial appointment, you will undergo a physical evaluation to determine the best course of treatment for your needs. Treatment plans will be dependent upon the severity of your conditions and any health risks you may have.
At South Sherbrook Therapy, we are dedicated to providing you with the best quality of treatment by designing individualized treatment plans for the specific recovery goals of each patient. Treatment plans could include targeted techniques aimed at relieving your arthritis symptoms and restoring your joint function. These may include any combination of exercises, stretches, ice and heat therapies, manual therapy, or weight management techniques as our physiotherapist deems fit.
If you have been living with arthritis or you think you may be experiencing arthritic symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact our Winnipeg, MB physiotherapy office for an appointment today. We’ll help you manage your arthritic pains so you can get back to living the life you want to live!
FAQs
What are the symptoms for arthritis pain?
Do your joints feel stiff, achy, or painful, especially when you wake up in the morning? If so, you may be experiencing the effects of arthritis. This is one of the most common symptoms of arthritis, but it is common to also expereince accompanying symptoms. Other sensations you may experience with arthritis include pain in the affected region, which may spread to surrounding body parts; persistent stiffness; inflammation; muscle spasms, joint creaking, clicking, or popping sounds; increased pain with certain activities, such as work or exercise; decreased range of motion in the affected area, abnormalities in gait, such as limping; swelling; weakness; and a warm sensation in the affected joint.
What are the best physical therapy treatments for arthritis pain?
Regardless of the cause of arthritis, physical therapy plays a major role in the treatment of its symptoms. Your physical therapist will conduct a physical evaluation to analyze your joint movement, muscle strength, and overall function, in order to pinpoint the exact areas that are causing you pain. You will then be prescribed a personalized treatment plan, focused around your specific needs. Treatment plans will include targeted stretches and exercises aimed at relieving your pain and improving your function, in addition to any specialized methods your physical therapist deems fit. This may include manual therapy, ice and heat therapies, electrical stimulation, or ultrasound. Your physical therapist may also include additional services as needed, such as weight management techniques to help ease some stress on your joints, and/or posture improvement to relieve stiffness and prevent injury.
Can arthritis affect different body parts?
There are over 100 different types of arthritis, containing monoarthritis (where only one joint is affected) and oligoarthritis (where multiple joints are affected). According to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly 54.4 million U.S. adults are diagnosed with some form of arthritis per year. As we age, the cartilage in our joints wears down, causing painful bone-on-bone rubbing, inflammation, stiffness, and pain. While it is possible for arthritis to develop in any of the joints, the fingers, elbows, shoulders, lower back, hips, and knees are among the most common.
Can arthritis be cured?
While there is no cure for arthritis yet, it is possible to alleviate arthritic symptoms by improving your joint movement, muscle strength, balance, and coordination through physical therapy treatments. In some cases, physical therapy can even make it possible to eliminate symptoms entirely. For best results, it is in your best interest to consult with a physical therapist as soon as you begin noticing arthritic symptoms. The sooner they get treated, the easier they are to manage. Whatever type of arthritis you may be suffering from, physical therapy undoubtedly plays an important role in pain relief. In addition, it can also help you avoid the need for harmful pain-management drugs or invasive surgical correction.