Do You Think You Have Arthritis? Get To The Source of Your Pain With Physical Therapy!

Arthritis is a disorder of the joints that millions of people live with. It results in joint inflammation that can cause aches, pains, stiffness, and limited mobility. While there are over 100 types of arthritis, they are typically split into two categories: monoarthritis, meaning only one joint is affected, and oligoarthritis, meaning multiple joints are affected.

The two most commonly reported types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis develops from “wear and tear” of cartilage, while rheumatoid arthritis develops from an overactive immune system.

If you’re living with arthritis, then you know how limiting it can be. While arthritis is debilitating, it can undoubtedly be managed!

If you believe you may be living with arthritic symptoms, contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA as soon as possible. We’ll help you manage your arthritic aches and pains and have you feeling better in no time.

I’m not sure if I have arthritis. What should I do?

First and foremost, if you think you might have arthritis, you should see your primary healthcare physician. They will perform a comprehensive examination, looking for disease-related symptoms such as inflammation and/or deformity.

They’ll go over your symptoms and order any blood tests, urine tests, joint fluid testing, or x-rays they think you need. If these tests reveal that you have arthritis, your doctor will devise a treatment plan for you based on the location and severity of your problem. This treatment strategy may include rest, exercise, and medications as needed.

You may likely be referred to a physical therapist to help guide you through your exercise routines. This is done to measure progress and ensure that you are completing your physical activity safely and correctly.

Physical therapy is a proven aid in arthritic pain relief without harmful pain-management drugs. According to the Arthritis Center at Johns Hopkins,

“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.”

Early diagnosis can help avoid joint damage and disability, so you must contact a doctor as soon as you think you may be developing arthritic symptoms.

What should I expect with physical therapy?

Physical therapy is nothing to be scared of. It’s a safe and effective treatment method for a variety of chronic pain conditions, and you can rest assured you’re in good hands at our clinic.

While there is no known treatment for arthritis, physical therapy is a tried and true way of reducing pain and inflammation. Based on the type of arthritic illness and their needs, each patient is given a tailored treatment plan. Treatment regimens aid in the improvement of strength, mobility, and range of motion while also reducing pain.

Your physical therapist will provide you with targeted stretches and exercises for arthritic relief, in addition to any other methods he or she may deem fit. This may include manual therapy, soft tissue mobilization, ice and heat therapies, deep tissue massage, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation.

Any additional modality will be added under the discretion of your physical therapist if needed for other pain relief or mobility improvement. Remember, if at any time you want to talk with your therapist about a change in your treatment plan, you’re more than welcome to come to us!

Call our clinic today and say goodbye to arthritis pain

Are you ready to relieve your arthritic aches and pains? Does getting back into the swing of things without nagging chronic discomfort sound like a dream come true to you? If so, contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine in Dublin, GA today.

We’ll help you manage your pain so you can get back to living your life!

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Ease The Stress of Arthritis With Physical Therapy Treatment

Almost a quarter of all American adults have arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This indicates that over 54 million people suffer from stiff, achy, swollen, and aching joints on a daily basis.

If you or a loved one suffers from arthritis in the neck, back, shoulders, wrists, hips, knees, or other joints, know that you are not alone in your struggle to find true, long-lasting pain relief!

Please contact our clinic in Dublin, GA to make an appointment with a physical therapist, and in the meantime, continue reading to learn how we can assist you!

How can a physical therapist relieve arthritis pain?

Without the use of medicines, a physical therapist can help you control and relieve your arthritis joint discomfort. Physical therapy may potentially help you avoid surgery, such as a complete knee replacement or total hip replacement, by maximizing your joint health through the following strategies.

Here are the top five things a physical therapist can do for you or a loved one who suffers from arthritis:

1. Using adaptive equipment to improve daily functions

To compensate for functional restrictions caused by arthritis and keep you safer as you go about your day, you may need adaptive equipment or another home modification item. While adaptable gadgets might be extremely cost-effective, having more of them than you need or not knowing how to utilize the ones you have properly, is pretty much a waste of time, money, and effort.

A physical therapist can show you a selection of adaptive gadgets that will help you in your daily activities. We can also ensure that you understand how to operate it properly and tweak any equipment so that it suits you properly. Custom orthotics, braces, splints, walkers, crutches, canes, bed canes, long-handled sponges or reachers, benches, and other devices may be used.

2. Teaching you therapeutic exercises and stretches

Exercise is an important part of any successful physical treatment program, especially for people with arthritis. But how can you work out if you’re in excruciating pain?

A physical therapist can teach you exercises and stretches that are appropriate for your current abilities while also managing your discomfort with other treatments. Physical therapy exercises are tailored to your specific needs, whether you want to heal tissues, reduce pain and inflammation, develop strength, improve range of motion, lessen excessive tension on an injured joint, or do all of the above.

Your physical therapist can also show you how to modify your home workout program in real-time to make you feel more successful and safe.

Remember that cardiovascular exercise, such as walking, swimming, or cycling, is one of the most effective non-pharmaceutical ways to relieve arthritis pain. Allow your physical therapist to show you how to incorporate more aerobic exercise into your everyday life in a safe manner so that you can get the most out of this healthy activity.

3. Using non-invasive pain-relief modalities

Our physical therapy team uses a range of non-invasive modalities that can enhance the healing effects of exercise and manual therapy techniques. These may include:

  • Electrical stimulation, including TENS
  • Cold or hot therapy, including cold packs or paraffin wax
  • Cold laser therapy
  • Kinesiotape
  • Therapeutic ultrasound
  • Dry needling

4. Trying joint mobilizations techniques

Arthritis is characterized by persistent inflammation and cartilage destruction in the joints, which can result in painful bone-on-bone contact. Joint mobilizations in physical therapy can help relieve pain caused by this damage while also improving joint alignment and mechanics for longer-term comfort.

Other manual approaches, such as soft tissue massage and mobilization, may be prescribed by your physical therapist, and you may be taught self-myofascial release exercises to relieve muscular tension, break up uncomfortable scar tissue, and improve healing circulation.

5. Provide you with patient education

By increasing your awareness about anatomy, pain, body mechanics, posture, ergonomics, and other relevant information, a physical therapist can help you gain a better understanding of your experience and what you can do (or avoid) to improve your comfort and quality of life.

Are you having joint replacement surgery?

Joint replacement surgery is on the horizon for some arthritis patients. When alternative conservative therapies have been attempted, this more invasive method may be the best “last resort” option for restoring function and easing suffering.

If this is the case for you, know that physical therapy is an important part of your post-operative recovery and is frequently recommended by orthopedic surgeons. A physical therapist can teach you how to obey any activity limitations or precautions prescribed by your surgeon, in addition to assisting you through rehabilitation exercises throughout your healing stages.

We invite you to think of us if you’re preparing for or recovering from a joint replacement surgery so you can make sure your outcomes turn out well!

Is Arthritis Pain Holding You Back?

Don’t let daily struggles with arthritis pain get you down. Our physical therapy team can provide innovative, research-backed, and individualized services to ease your pain and help you achieve the things that matter to you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist.

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Living with Painful Joints? PT Can Help in These 4 Ways

Arthritis is a common joint pain problem that can affect people of all ages. While there is no cure for arthritis, with physical therapy, you can learn how to manage your arthritis pain naturally.

For many people with chronic arthritis pain, prescription pain medications may seem like the only way to relieve pain.

However, our experienced physical therapist recommends completing a variety of targeted exercises to reduce inflammation, increase mobility, and relieve your arthritis pain. Keep reading to learn more!

How can physical therapy help relieve joint pain?

If you have arthritis pain, our physical therapist recommends completing a few different physical therapy exercises to help ease your pain and other symptoms, such as stiffness.

Some of our favorite exercises are:

  • Hand Exercises — Rheumatoid arthritis can often result in limited use of the hands over time. By bending the wrists up and down, slowly curling your fingers, and spreading your fingers wide in a repetitive exercise cycle, you can greatly improve mobility and relieve chronic pain.
  • Water Exercises — This is a great low-impact way to get in your physical therapy exercises and relieve joint pain.
  • Walking — Going for a walk is a great way to improve your joint health, boost your overall mood, and help with aerobic conditioning.
  • Stretching — This simple exercise helps to improve flexibility, increase your range of motion and reduce stiffness caused by arthritis.

So, why am I experiencing joint pain?

Because there are different types of arthritis, there is no major cause of this type of joint problem.

There are, however, certain risk factors that may increase the likelihood that you may develop arthritis in your lifetime.

Gender

Did you know that women are much more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men? But on the other hand, men are more likely to develop gout.

Age

The risk of developing certain types of arthritis, like osteoarthritis and gout, increases as we age.

Previous Injury

If you’ve injured a joint in the past, you have an increased risk of developing arthritis in the same area later in life.

Weight

When you are carrying excess weight on your body, you are putting increased strain on your joints. People with obesity have a greater chance of developing arthritis, particularly in the knees, hips, and spine.

Family History

Certain types of arthritis can be genetic issues that run within family lines.

If your parents or siblings have a specific type of arthritis, you are much more likely to develop it at some point in your life as well.

How else can joint pain develop?

Can you believe that it’s possible to develop soft tissue pain from doing absolutely nothing? It’s strange, but true. Take for example, this condition called adhesive capsulitis, otherwise known as “frozen shoulder.”

If you’ve had to wear a sling for a while, this is an uncomfortable condition you could end up having that can render your shoulder useless for quite some time.

Osteoarthritis is the most common condition that causes pain and stiffness.This condition can affect anyone at any age, but is most commonly found in older patients due to age-related deterioration of cartilage between bones in the joint. Osteoarthritis isn’t the only one to look out for. Rheumatoid arthritis is another painful, damaging joint condition caused by autoimmune problems.

Do you have any of these symptoms?

For most people with arthritis, joint pain is the most common complaint.

But depending on the type of arthritis an individual has, they may experience a variety of different symptoms, including:

  • Chronic pain
  • Impaired range of motion
  • Stiffness
  • Redness
  • Swelling

What else should I know about arthritis?

Arthritis is characterized by swelling or tenderness in one or more of the body’s joints. Joint pain and stiffness are the most common complaints of those with arthritis, and these symptoms may actually worsen with age.

While there are many types of arthritis, the two most common types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in the joint begins to break down, resulting in recurring pain and stiffness.

However, rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack different joints, starting with the actual lining of the joints and breaking them down over time.

Consult with a licensed PT today

Are you interested in learning more about the benefits of physical therapy for arthritis pain?

Please contact our friendly and experienced physical therapist today to learn more, and be sure to schedule an initial consultation.

Opioids Don’t Need to Be the Answer for Arthritis Pain Relief

Find Relief for Your Joint Pain the Natural Way!

Arthritis is a general term that actually encompasses hundreds of different diseases. Whether you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or any other type of arthritis, two of the primary symptoms are inflammation and joint pain.

Whatever type of arthritis you suffer from, you’re likely struggling to overcome varying degrees of pain. If you are taking opioids for arthritis pain, we’re here to let you know that there is a better option.

Find relief with physical therapy

Physical therapy can be an effective alternative to taking opioids for arthritis pain.

There are several specific ways that a physical therapist can help an individual struggling with arthritis pain, including:

  • Ergonomic modifications – A physical therapist will be able to make suggestions for your home environment that can help ease arthritic pain. These might include mats to stand on in your kitchen, ergonomic chairs, or certain types of mattresses or bedding you can use.
  • Assistive devices – During physical therapy treatment you can also learn how to correctly use devices such as braces, canes, or walkers.
  • Targeted exercises – A physical therapist can teach you exercises that will increase flexibility and strength. These exercises can also reduce the pain you experience when carrying out daily activities. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, research shows that individuals with arthritis can exercise without making pain worse.
  • Electrical stimulation – TENS is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation therapy. This type of physical therapy includes pulses of electricity used to target arthritis pain. A physical therapist can place electrodes on the skin over the area of pain. Low amounts of electricity pass through to the joints. This can temporarily relieve arthritis pain.
  • Manual therapy – A physical therapist can provide massage or use hot or cold therapy to ease arthritic pain. Massage can help improve circulation which can reduce joint pain.

If you’re struggling with arthritis pain, a trained physical therapist can work with you to increase your mobility while decreasing pain.

What should I know about opioids?

Opioids are powerful narcotics that work to cause numb relief. They have the ability to bind to the brain’s opioid receptors and to limit the messages of pain sent to the brain. Both oxycodone and morphine are considered to be opioids.

While opioid drugs may be beneficial when carefully used over a short period of time, they are not without serious drawbacks. They are highly addictive and they often interact with other drugs. Approximately 42,000 deaths related to opioid overdoses occurred in 2016.

If you are currently taking some type of opioid for your arthritis pain, it is important to know that there is a safer alternative that can reduce and even eliminate pain.

Is arthritis impacting your everyday life?

If you’re struggling with osteoarthritis, you’re likely to experience pain, stiffness, and limited flexibility. Rheumatoid arthritis may cause similar symptoms and may affect organs in the body.

Psoriatic arthritis and gout are also types of arthritis that can cause varying levels of pain, inflammation, and mobility. Arthritis pain may affect even the simplest of daily activities.

Washing, cooking, and walking up and down the stairs can prove difficult with any of these types of arthritis. The severity of the pain may also change on a daily basis. Because of this, it can become too easy to rely on powerful pain medications to cope with arthritis pain.

What else should I consider?

It is quite common for people who have arthritis pain to resort to expensive surgery, steroid injections, and prescription medications to cope with their pain.

Sometimes, patients with severe arthritis may benefit from these treatments. However, more often than not, physical therapy and natural treatments are the best route to take.

Arthritis does not discriminate either, and although it is often found in elderly patients, it can affect anyone at any age.

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.”

Arthritis is also one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. If left untreated by a professional, patients with arthritis may experience extremely painful symptoms over a long period of time.

If you want to learn more about how physical therapy can benefit you and reduce your arthritis pain, please call our office today.

Get started today

Even if you are already taking opioids, an individualized physical therapy program may help you reduce the amount of medication you are taking.

To find out how you can reduce arthritis pain, contact our Dublin, GA office to set up an appointment with a physical therapist!