Need More Physical Activity? Here’s How to Get It

Did you know that 80 percent of the U.S. population falls short of the Physical Activity Guidelines recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services? Millions of Americans are risking serious health consequences simply because they do too much sitting and not enough moving around. You may not find that information shocking, especially if you’re one of those 80 percent. What really might surprise you, however, is just how easily you can give your daily activity level a dramatic boost. Here are seven simple tips from our physical therapist for adding some much-needed additional exercise to your life.

1. Walk Instead of Drive

Many people automatically get into their cars even for a brief trip to the mailbox or corner store. What if you spent an extra few minutes each day walking instead of driving? It might not sound like much of a workout, but walking increases the circulation, exercises your legs and feet, sheds excess pounds, keeps your joints limber and helps to release stress.

2. Get a Bicycle

If that trip to the corner store takes too much time on foot, maybe it’s time you remembered how to ride a bicycle. Cycling exercises different muscles than walking, making it a valuable complement to that discipline when you need to go a little farther and a little faster. It also provides you with a significant cardio workout.

3. Take Up a New Sport

Getting that extra activity doesn’t have to be a chore; it could just as easily take the form of new fun. Have you thought of taking up tennis, golf, surfing, swimming, running, or a team sport such as soccer or softball? These sports all offer different physical benefits, and they all get you up and moving.

4. Join a Yoga Class

Physical activity isn’t always a matter of running or jumping around at a frenetic pace. Yoga offers profound benefits to body and mind by releasing stress, stretching muscles, increasing your range of motion, and helping you master your breathing. A yoga class offers structured learning as well as a positive social environment.

5. Stand at Your Desk

Standing desks have become all the rage in workplaces, and for good reason. Standing at your desk instead of sitting can help prevent unwanted weight gain, regulate blood sugar levels after meals, ease back pain, elevate your mood and energy level, reduce your heart disease risk and add years to your life expectancy. You may even find that you get more work done!

6. Turn “Couch Potato Time” Into a Workout

There’s nothing wrong with spending some quality time watching your favorite TV shows or movies — but you don’t necessarily have to spend all those hours sprawled on your couch, motionless. Consider getting a stationary bike or treadmill that you can use while you’re catching up on your stories. You’ll have just as much fun, but you’ll be working out instead of sacking out.

7. Exercise With Your Dog

Have you ever marveled at the sheer energy and endurance displayed by your dog? Dogs love to walk, run, play catch and explore. Join in these activities, and you’ll find that your dog gives you one heck of a workout.

One Final Tip: Get Physical Therapy

Are there activities on this list that you’d love to try — if only your body would let you? Physical therapy could get you back in shape to get into better shape. Ask our physical therapist for a one-to-one consultation!

The Best Treatment Method for Solving All of Your Aches and Pains

Whether you have recently started waking up with generalized aches and pains, or suffering from chronic pain for a long time, physical therapy has been proven to be the best possible treatment method for you. A sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, poor nutrition or an injury can all contribute to aches and pains. The bad news is that the pain is probably not going to go away on its own. The good news is that a physical therapist can put you back on the right track and help get rid of those aches and pains.

Sources of Aches and Pains

If you suffer from generalized aches and pains when you wake up in the morning, here is what your physical therapist will tell you. Our bodies build up inflammation in the tissues throughout the day. This can be extremely subtle and you may not notice it, even by the end of the day. But when we lie down and go to sleep, the inflammation can thicken and settle into your muscles. This in turn immobilizes your joints and can lead to aches and pains when you wake up. That same process repeats, day after day.

Eventually, chronic pain can set in if you do not make any lifestyle changes to correct the problem. This is why it is a great idea to contact our office for a consultation, before the pain leads to more serious health problems.

Diagnosing Aches & Pains with a Physical Therapist

Your first visit with a physical therapist will involve a conversation about your symptoms and medical history, as well as some simple tests. Be prepared to answer questions about past injuries that may be contributing to your current aches and pains. Your diet, exercise routine and daily activities will also be discussed. This is to give your therapist an idea of the possible cause or causes of your aches and pains.

You will then be given a series of tests, based on your description of your symptoms. These will involve posture and range of motion exercises, and possibly some strength and resistance tests. When your therapist knows where you are experiencing aches and pains and has determined the likely causes, your personalized physical therapy treatment plan will be drawn up.

Physical Therapy for Aches and Pains

Physical therapy has a wide range of tactics and techniques that can be deployed to help with pain management. Here are just a few:

  • Tissue massage
  • Joint and bone manipulation
  • Movement therapy and exercise
  • Cold laser therapy to release endorphins
  • Microcurrent stimulation to release serotonin
  • Manual therapy

Within each of those categories, your physical therapist has a lot of tools and techniques at their disposal. For example, movement therapy and exercise might mean running on a treadmill, or working in a swimming pool. It all depends on your physical condition, the source of your aches and pains, and the treatment methods that are most likely to meet with results.

Tips for Ongoing Pain Relief

Your physical therapist will also work to educate you on ways to keep aches and pains at bay, by living a healthier lifestyle. This can range from advice on staying hydrated and enjoying better nutrition, to exercises and stretches you can do at home. The goal is to get you to the point where you are motivated to stay healthy without the need for regular physical therapy sessions. All of this will contribute to solving your aches and pains.

If aches and pains are starting to lower your quality of life, it’s time to take that first positive step by calling our office. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment with a trained and licensed physical therapist.

Are You Experiencing Hip or Knee Pain? Find Relief with Physical Therapy

Are you hobbling instead of walking these days? Do you fear that your active lifestyle is the thing of the past? Do your hips and knees simply refuse to do their jobs without causing you intense pain? If your quality of life has been drastically reduced by knee pain and/or hip pain, you may be looking for a path to relief that doesn’t involve drugs or surgery. Physical therapy is a conservative approach can that not only ease your hip or knee but also improve the function of these critical weight-bearing joints. You can learn more by contacting Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine today!

Understanding Hip and Knee Pain

Your hip and knee joints have a tough job to do. The hips must bear the entire weight of your upper body, while your knees must bear all of that weight plus the weight of the hips and thighs. At the same time, these joints must be able to flex so that you can walk, run, dance, sit, play sports, and perform other everyday tasks without losing your balance. It’s not hard to understand how these demands can produce chronic hip or knee pain over time. Hip or knee pain can also come about quite suddenly (and intensely) in response to an acute injury.

Causes and Symptoms of Hip and Knee Pain

Hip and knee pain can be caused by a great number of problems. Some of these are related to musculoskeletal misalignment, poor posture, and/or excess weight; others occur as the result of natural aging or unhealthy sports/work habits. Your hip or knee pain may stem from:

  • Osteoarthritis, a painful inflammatory condition involving deteriorated joint cartilage
  • Postural/alignment issues that throw your body off balance, straining the knees or hips
  • Bursitis, an inflammation of the friction-reducing sacs surround the joints
  • Tendinitis or stretched ligaments
  • Runner’s knee, an instability of the kneecap
  • Infections
  • Traumatic injuries such as dislocation of the joint

Our physical therapist can often tell the cause of your hip or knee pain from its location. For example, pain along the inside of the hip is more likely to be caused by a problem with the bones or cartilage. Pain along the outer side is typically caused by a problem in the muscles, tendons or ligaments.

How Physical Therapy Helps Hip and Knee Pain

Once our physical therapist has isolated the underlying cause of your hip or knee pain, we can prescribe techniques to help you start feeling — and moving — more like your old self. Physical therapy for hip or knee pain may start with passive exercises, in which we move the afflicted joint for you to increase its pain-free range of motion. Exercises that reduce the amount of weight on the joints can also be extremely helpful. For instance, we may recommend swimming or water walking as a means of exercising the hips and knees without also forcing them to bear your full weight.

Other types of exercises can also help you overcome your hip or knee pain while improving joint function. Strengthening exercises help by reinforcing the muscles and connective tissues that serve the joint. Corrective exercises and neuromuscular re-education can help you maintain a straighter, more symmetrical posture.

Last but not least, physical therapy offers a variety of helpful modalities beyond exercise. We may treat your joint pain with heat, ice, and manual therapies such as massage, just to name a few.

Are you ready to reclaim your pain-free mobility through physical therapy? Contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine for an appointment!

3 Natural Ways To Relieve Stiff and Achy Joints

Pain Relief Is Closer Than You Might Realize!

Sometimes we wake up in the morning feeling stiff and achy. We wonder, “Did I sleep on my neck wrong? Do I need to replace my mattress?” It’s only normal that from time to time we feel a little off upon getting our day started! However, if you find that you’re consistently waking up in pain, it could be time for a trip to a physical therapist.

Aching, stiff joints could be an easily fixed issue, but in some cases, your physician might diagnose you with a condition that requires a referral to a physical therapist for further treatment. Rehab Advantage has worked with tons of patients dealing with aches and pains in their joints, so contact us today to learn more. We’re 100% committed to helping you enjoy a better quality of life!

Stiff and Achy In The Morning? There Could Be A Reason!

Throughout the day, your joint tissues become irritated. By the time you’re tired and ready to go to bed, there’s a good chance you won’t even notice it. For the most part, when you fall asleep, you remain immobile overnight. This allows the inflammation to grow thicker joints become even more irritated.

The result? You wake up in the morning and find that your joints are stiff and achy. How uncomfortable! After you start moving around though, usually the inflammation becomes more fluid-like and the pain will lessen or subside altogether.

Your physical therapist is likely to recommend a pretty common remedy for this, which is that you stay properly hydrated throughout the day. Drinking enough fluids and staying hydrated allows your body’s tissues to function at their normal rate, whereas dehydration slows down your chemical processes and has the opposite effect!

But What If I Have A More Serious Medical Condition?

Sometimes it’s not as simple as consuming enough fluids throughout the day to ease your aching joints. If your doctor has diagnosed you with a more serious medical condition that impacts your joints and tissues, physical therapy can be a great option for ultimate pain relief or elimination. Here are some of the most common ailments that can be relieved with the guidance of a physical therapist:

  • Lupus.
  • Bursitis.
  • Gout.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Osteoarthritis.

Unfortunately, all of these conditions can cause aching, stiffness, and joint pain. A physical therapist will work with you to help you gain your strength back, achieve a greater range of motion with the affected joints or limbs, and relieve the pain so you can enjoy a better quality of life.

3 Natural Ways To Relieve Stiff, Achy Joints

Your physical therapy treatment plan will largely depend on the specific symptoms or diagnosis you have received. There are several recommendations that work hand-in-hand with physical therapy.

Here are some tips that your physical therapist may share with you on your recovery journey!

  • Eat Healthy. According to Healthline, “A plant-based diet provides antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation by eliminating free radicals from the body.” Having a well-rounded diet is key to relieving joint pain. Be sure to consume lots of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. These healthy foods contain many antioxidants and vitamins, which help to fight the swelling and inflammation that can lead to joint pain. A better diet also helps your body reap more benefits from exercise, and helps you to get better sleep!
  • Get Restful Sleep. Sleep can help you stay fit — pretty cool, huh? Getting enough sleep at night creates a circular benefit with physical therapy exercises, because when you get enough sleep, it increases your ability to exercise effectively. When you exercise regularly, it helps you to get better sleep. Better sleep habits and physical exercise are a powerful duo for keeping aches and stiffness away.
  • Work On Your Posture. It’s important to get up every half hour for stretches if you work at a job that requires you to stay pretty sedentary all day. Moving around keeps your circulations going, and can help relieve joint pain. Having good posture during the day also helps your joints to function properly. When we slouch or don’t practice good posture, it causes unnecessary strain on parts of the body that shouldn’t be stressed.

Contact Our Physical Therapy Office Today

Some people believe that you have to be a professional athlete or a bodybuilder to work with a physical therapist regularly, but this is far from the truth. Many of the exercises and stretches a physical therapist will teach and recommend are very easy and simple to perform on your own, and they don’t require special tools or equipment. Not to mention, most of our patients are regular people — not Olympic athletes!

If you’re experiencing joint pain, it’s time to put your discomfort to rest. Contact Rehab Advantage today to learn more about how physical therapy can benefit you and relieve your pain. We can schedule a comprehensive exam for you to meet with one of our movement specialists. He or she will be able to assess your condition and create a customized treatment plan suited for your exact needs. So what are you waiting for? Pain relief is a phone call away!

Source:

6 Ways Physical Therapy Can Help You Improve Your Physical Health

Is your physical health getting you downl? A person’s physical health has a strong correlation to mood and vice versa. Those with active lifestyles tend to have longer lifespans, reports the Mayo Clinic, and they may realize significant benefits, such as weight loss, muscle gain and more. However, increasing your level of physical activity can be difficult. So, consider visiting a physical therapist now to review the top ways physical therapy may boost your overall health.

Physical Therapy Improves Energy Levels.

Physical therapy focuses on improving range of motion and activity, and according to Harvard Health Publishing, improved activity levels are associated with an increase in energy. Those with pain may also experience a higher level of mobility and energy with less pain as well.

It Provides a First-Line Option for Treatment of Tissue Damage.

A 2018 study, reports the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), found the application of physical therapy holds promise in treating tissue damage. While the study was specific to meniscal tears, it alludes to additional benefits for other tissue injuries. As a result, those with injuries or a history of injury may find improved stamina with continued exercise and therapy.

Therapy Offers Improved Management of Chronic and Stress-Induced Pain.

Physical therapy also improves management of chronic and stress-induced pain. According to MoveForwardPT, moving more coincides with a decrease of up to 28% in a person’s perception of pain. More importantly, those that received an education about their pain and its impacts, as well as how therapy treats pain, were more likely to experience less pain with treatment.

Physical Activity Boosts Mood and Reduces Risk of Mental Health Problems.

An improved mental mood and state are additional benefits of therapy. Continued participation in physical therapy and routine exercise boosts mental awareness and mood, notes the National Institutes of Health. This improvement translates into lower risk for anxiety, depression and mental instability. In addition, those with a better mood were less likely to experience pain and inflammation.

Regular Physical Therapy May Reduce Risk for Injury and Cardiovascular Issues.

The strengthening of joints and muscles in therapy may also reduce risk for injury in routine activities. Stronger muscles can recover faster, reducing the likelihood of injury from repetitive stress. More importantly, an active lifestyle provides a protective effect against major health problems, such as stroke and heart attack.

Non-Invasive Principles Offer an Opioid- and Surgery-Free Option.

Finally, the biggest benefit on health from therapy derives from its noninvasive nature. Since it does not involve medications or surgery, a person is less likely to develop subsequent infections, complications or side effects. Ultimately, it presents as a safer alternative to opioid and surgical treatment options.

Take Advantage of Physical Therapy’s Health Benefits.

Participating in therapy offers multiple health benefits that do not derive from a pill. As a result, its risk for side effects is considerably lower than the risks associated with medication treatment. Of course, seeing a licensed physical therapist is key to reaping maximum benefits and avoiding injury. Boost your physical health by requesting an appointment with a physical therapist online now.

Stand Up to Your Back Pain with Physical Therapy Relief

Do you find walking, playing sports, or even sitting and standing a challenge because of back pain? If so, you may be miserable, but you’re hardly alone. It’s estimated that up to 80 percent of Americans has struggled, or will struggle, with this debilitating symptom. For many, the only thing worse than the back pain itself is the nightmarish prospect of having to undergo major surgery to relieve it. So you’ll be happy to know that there are non-invasive options to help you stand up to your back pain — including physical therapy. Contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine physical therapist and discover this form of relief for yourself!

What Is Back Pain?

Back pain is one of those symptoms that can plague for 24/7 or some and go seemingly at will. It can take the form of a vague ache, sharp or “electric” pain sensations, stabbing agony or a burning feeling. It can occur in your upper back, middle back, or lower back. But with all of these variations, back pain falls into one of two principal categories:

  • Acute back pain – Acute back pain seems to attack you suddenly, even if shock or other circumstances actually delays its initial onset for hours or days. It is associated with acute injuries, infections, or other sudden-onset conditions. Thankfully, acute back pain fade as away on its own once the underlying injury has healed itself (with or without physical therapy and other forms of care).
  • Chronic back pain – Unlike acute back pain, chronic back pain refuses to go away for good. Any back pain that continues to bother after 3 months can be considered chronic in nature. You may experience bouts of pain interrupted by periods of relief, or you may suffer from unremitting pain.

What’s Causing Your Back Pain?

Acute back pain can be caused by a violent disc herniation, ruptured ligament, muscle tear, infected tissue, or vertebral subluxation (a subtle kind of joint dislocation). The underlying cause is usually easy to determine. Chronic back pain can be more puzzling, if only because it has so many possible causes, such as:

  • Strain or arthritis in the facet joints, which connect and articulate the spinal vertebrae
  • Chronic muscle strain due to alignment problems, poor posture or muscle weakness
  • Repetitive motion strain due to uncomfortable workplace ergonomics or athletic overuse
  • Obesity, which stresses the back muscles
    Age-related bulging discs, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis.

How Does Physical Therapy Help Back Pain?

Physical therapy could be just what the doctor (or physical therapist) ordered for your back pain issues. Our physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation that takes your spinal alignment, any obvious injuries, baseline back strength, range of motion, age, weight, workplace ergonomics, and other factors into consideration. This thorough approach enables us to prescribe a multi-modal physical therapy program to help you overcome your back pain without surgery. Your back may benefit from:

  • Strength training and neuromuscular education to help you maintain a straighter, healthier back
  • Stretches and other flexibility exercises to make back motion easier and less painful
  • Recommendations for ergonomic changes in your workplace, which can reduce awkward twisting, stooping or stretching
  • Recommendations for changing how you play or train for your favorite sport, as a means of avoiding repetitive motion injuries or acute sports injuries.

We can implement your physical therapy program alongside other safe, natural treatment methods from your chiropractor or family doctor. The first step, however, is yours to take. Contact our physical therapist today to learn more about how we can help you conquer back pain!

Put the Spring Back in Your Step With Physical Therapy Treatments

Are you suffering from acute or chronic pain? Perhaps you’ve been struggling with back pain for quite some time, or you’re recovering from an unexpected sports injury, or maybe you’re even still dealing with impairments from an auto accident. Whatever you may be facing, physical therapy is here to help. If your pain is impacting your daily life, we encourage you to contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine as soon as possible to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist.

Our physical therapists are experts in human movement, and our practice employs a wide range of drug-free, non-invasive, and effective techniques that benefit our patients in many ways — far beyond the basics of symptom management. There are 5 main reasons why physical therapy treatments are so beneficial in helping patients reclaim the healthy, happy, and active lifestyle they want and deserve:

1. Physical therapy treatments are customized for the patient.

A standard physical therapy plan of care is completely individualized to the patient. The main focuses of any plan of care are addressing the patient’s unique goals, resolving their impairments, and optimizing their recovery, functional independence, and long-term health. These outcomes can be achieved through physical therapy techniques, including:

After undergoing a thorough examination with your physical therapist, you’ll receive an individualized treatment plan that will aim to accelerate your healing. This plan is modified to meet your specific needs and lifestyle, and it relies on your feedback throughout the process, giving you an active role in your recovery.

2. Physical therapy treatments have little-to-no side effects.

Unlike many medications and invasive procedures, physical therapy services have a very low risk of side effects. They also remain highly effective in reducing pain, swelling, inflammation and other impairments related to a patient’s condition. Physical therapy techniques require less downtime and can be modified in order to allow for safe use on everyone, from infants to seniors.

3. Physical therapists help their patients maximize functional mobility, capacity, and performance.

A physical therapist helps patients improve coordination, core stability, endurance, agility, and any other physical skills that they can carry over into their sports, work, hobbies, and everyday life. This is essential for young active people who are looking to improve performance, as well as the older population who are looking to avoid age-related debility.

In other words, our physical therapy team can manage your injury or disease now as well as help prevent injury in the future.

4. Physical therapy treatments eliminate the need for harmful opioids.

The current opioid abuse epidemic across the nation suggests that these potentially harmful drugs are frequently overprescribed. The CDC recommends physical therapy before opioids for the management of many types of chronic pain. Additionally, treatment techniques used in physical therapy are “evidence-based,” meaning they are tested in scientific research studies in order to provide support for their safety, efficacy, and effectiveness.

5. Physical therapists are able to identify hidden factors contributing to a patient’s pain.

A physical therapist won’t just “mask” your pain. Our therapists identify and resolve underlying factors contributing to your current condition and increasing your risk of chronic issues. Common factors include shortened muscles, scar tissue, range-of-motion limitations, muscle activation problems, impaired ergonomics and body mechanics, and postural imbalances. If factors like these are left unaddressed, your symptom relief would likely be temporary at best.

Through services such as patient education, work-hardening programs and other techniques previously mentioned, a physical therapist can address both symptom and cause.

Contact us today:

Are you ready to find some long-term solutions to your pain? Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed physical therapists and get started on your journey back to health and healing!

Ditch the Medication and Get to the Root of Your Problem With Physical Therapy

It is no secret that pain can put a dent in your lifestyle. Many people make the mistake of relying on medication to provide relief, but meds only mask the symptoms, instead of fixing them. Physical therapy is a natural and non-invasive treatment that works. If you are suffering from either acute or chronic pain, contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine to learn how our physical therapists can get you on a natural path to a pain-free life, free from harmful drugs.

The disadvantages of using meds for pain:

Taking pain-management drugs as a way to rid yourself of pain may seem like a good solution in the short-term, but it has many disadvantages in the long-term. Over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen can lead to undesirable side effects. For example, taking excessive amounts of aspirin can cause your stomach to bleed and can lead to kidney damage. Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen can also both cause both kidney and stomach problems.

However, prescription opioids like codeine, oxycodone, and morphine are perhaps the worst. These are habit-forming drugs that can lead to addiction. They are also responsible for an additional number of side effects, include respiratory depression, constipation, anxiety, and nausea. Several people also overdose on opioids each year, either due to addiction or a gradually increased intake in order to relieve pain. Not only does taking meds for pain just mask the problem, it just may cause you another one.

Physical therapy as a natural treatment:

For many people, even the thought of exercising can make them cringe due to the pain they are feeling. However, PT exercises are one of the absolute best treatments for chronic pain. By participating in a physical therapy routine, you will see just how effective exercise can be for all types of chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain. Just a few of the many conditions that can be treated through physical therapy include:

  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Chronic headaches.
  • Neuropathic pain.
  • Disc herniation.
  • Disc degeneration disease.

A physical therapist has a wide variety of treatment options to offer for pain. Just a few of the common methods and modalities that physical therapists use include manipulation of the joints and bones, movement therapy, massage therapy, microcurrent stimulation, and cold laser therapy. All of these treatments help in relieving pain, reducing inflammation, accelerating healing, and improving daily function.

Designing a treatment plan:

Consulting with a physical therapist can greatly reduce your recovery time. This is because a physical therapist will treat your entire body by identifying the root cause of your pain. A physical therapist will perform an assessment to determine where your pain is coming from and will develop an individualized treatment plan that is designed to target exactly what is causing your pain. At your initial appointment, you will undergo a comprehensive exam process, which includes a full medical history. Selected tests are done to identify movement-related disorders. For a specific diagnosis, all of the collected exam data is carefully reviewed.

Physical therapy entails both active and passive treatment. Passive therapy treatments focus on pain-relieving methods and modalities, such as massage therapy, ice and heat therapies, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation. Active physical therapy treatments focus on regaining function, improving range of motion, and increasing strength and flexibility. Treatments may include targeted motions, exercises, stretches or aquatic therapy. You can feel confident that a physical therapist will develop a treatment plan that is just for you and your needs.

If you’re in pain, there is an effective solution other than pain meds or surgery. All of our physical therapies are seasoned and certified, happy to discuss how our services can benefit you. Our goal is to help you recover and get you back to your optimum levels of function. Contact our office today, and we’ll get you started on a path to help you live your life to the fullest.

Decrease Your Joint Pain and Increase Your Mobility With Physical Therapy

As everyone ages, we may catch ourselves thinking the same thought: our joints simply aren’t what they used to be. Perhaps you are struggling with an injury that makes motion painful or perhaps you’re suffering from the age-related “wear and tear” of osteoarthritis. Whatever the case may be, one thing remains true: you can’t get around as well without the aches and pains.

However, taking painkilling drugs or leading a sedentary life in order to compensate for your daily aches and pains isn’t a healthy way to combat your condition. If you want to enjoy your life as fully as possible without being limited by joint aches and stiffness, it’s time to think about an all-natural answer: physical therapy.

How does joint pain and stiffness occur?

In order to understand how physical therapy can help you with your joint symptoms, you must first understand why those symptoms are happening. Joint stiffness and pain can develop due to a vast number of reasons. For example, in an acute sprain or strain, the muscles, tendons, or ligaments or the joint may be damaged. This can result in painful and immobilizing inflammation.

However, injury to the soft tissues doesn’t have to occur in a dramatic accident — it can also develop slowly over several weeks, months, or even years. If your chosen sport, job, or hobby causes you to repetitively overstress certain joints, you may end up with chronic tendinitis or bursitis. Sometimes, you can even develop soft tissue pain from doing nothing. For instance, a condition called adhesive capsulitis, also known as “frozen shoulder,” can cause your shoulder to become unusable if you’ve had your arm in a sling for a long time.

Perhaps the most common cause of joint pain and stiffness is osteoarthritis. Everyone gets older, and this condition usually stems from age-related deterioration of the cartilage between the bones in a joint. Another common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, which is a painful and damaging joint condition caused by autoimmune issues.

What are the different types of physical therapy?

As you can see, there are many ways to develop joint aches and pains. Fortunately, there are also many forms of physical therapy that can address these symptoms, thus easing your pain and extending your range of motion. One of our experienced physical therapists will start by evaluating your condition carefully. This will include an examination of your overall health, your daily activities, and the nature of your symptoms. Evaluation of the joint itself and your ability to move it will also be a crucial part of your evaluation, as it can reveal exactly what the underlying problem is. This will lead toward the recommendation of specific types of therapy, such as:

  • R.I.C.E. RICE stands for “Rest,” “Ice,” “Compression” and “Elevation.” If you are nursing an acute joint injury, your physical therapist will likely prescribe this protocol in order to reduce pain and swelling.
  • Stretching exercises. Stretching exercises help injured muscles and connective tissues heal back to their former length and range of motion. These exercises are also good for keeping arthritic joints from becoming stiffer.
  • Joint mobilization techniques. Joint mobilization techniques can help improve your pain-free range of motion and increase your function. You may also benefit from techniques aimed at breaking up internal scar tissue, which can form over old injuries and cause chronic stiffness.

Contact us today to get started on a treatment plan:

Our highly-trained physical therapists can create an individualized treatment plan equipped to fit your personal needs and goals. Don’t put up with your painful joints any longer – contact our office today at 478-887-3021 or click here to get started on your path toward recovery and relief!

Don’t Suffer From Arthritis Pain Any Longer – Find Relief With Physical Therapy

Millions of individuals struggle with arthritis pain and stiffness. Many arthritis sufferers follow several steps each day just to relieve stiff and achy joints. Physical therapy can be part of an effective plan to ease your pain while also remaining active. Contact Rehab Advantage & Sports Medicine today to find out how a physical therapy program can lessen arthritis pain or even eliminate it altogether!

Choosing the right foods:

Nutrition can play a crucial role in easing arthritis pain and discomfort. Besides avoiding MSG, refined carbs, and sugary foods that increase inflammation, you’ll also want to add some specific foods to your diet that can help ease your arthritis pain. These include:

  • Walnuts. Much like the nutrients you find in fish, walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation. Walnuts can be eaten alone or added to almost any sweet or salty dish.
  • Broccoli. Broccoli has an ingredient called sulforaphane, which has the ability to slow down or even prevent osteoarthritis. Broccoli is great served hot or cold, in salads, or as a casserole.
  • Ginger. Ginger may be able to help reduce inflammation and alleviate arthritis pain. It also adds incredible flavor to almost any food, including soups, fruits, veggies, and meat.
  • Soy. Soy is high in protein and low in fat, and it is also a great tasting way to fight inflammation. You can get your soy through tofu, soy milk, or roasted soybeans.

Staying physically active through physical therapy:

While exercise won’t reverse arthritis, it can help slow its progression and ease painful symptoms. Sticking with a regular exercise routine that’s provided by your physical therapist can also help you maintain a healthy body weight, which will ease the strain on your joints. A physical therapist can show you several types of stretches and exercises that address your affected joints and help you find relief.

Physical therapy may also help you avoid taking excessive amounts of medication in order to reduce your pain. A physical therapist is trained to evaluate your condition and provide the correct exercises to meet your needs. A common physical therapy exercise for arthritis patients is aquatic therapy, as working out in water allows for soothing a non-impact exercise. A physical therapist may also recommend working out in a heated pool, in order to help relieve the pain in your arthritic joints.

Working with a physical therapist:

A physical therapy treatment program can ease the pain from arthritis and help improve your daily life. Working with a physical therapist can help you achieve the following goals:

  • Strengthening your muscles. When the muscles that surround and support your aching joints are stronger and more flexible, your arthritis pain will be much less severe. Physical therapy techniques can be used to increase strength, which in turn will relieve pain.
  • Increasing your range of motion. A physical therapy program can help reduce stiffness by keeping both your muscles and ligaments loose. This will lessen your pain and improve your overall range of mobility.
  • Learning how to correctly use devices. A trained physical therapist can help you learn how to use orthotics, walkers, and any other assistive device correctly. This will help lessen the strain on joints when you move and ensure that you are using the devices safely.

Understanding a physical therapist’s methods:

A qualified physical therapist may use several treatment methods in order to help relieve arthritic pain. For example, a physical therapist may use massage as a way to loosen up the muscles and tendons that surround your arthritic joints. Physical therapy treatments might also include the use of ice packs and ice baths, in order to reduce inflammation. Your physical therapist may also use heating pads, as well as other heat methods to loosen up your tight muscles. Laser or ultrasound treatments may also be used to provide relief, as your physical therapist deems fit.

A qualified physical therapist can put together an individualized program to help reduce your arthritis pain and keep you as active as possible. Physical therapy is an excellent way to keep your joints, tendons, and muscles working together efficiently. Contact our office today at (478) 887-3021 or click here to see how physical therapy can help you relieve your arthritis symptoms and live a pain-free life!