Are you suffering from inflamed, painful, or stiff joints? Are you in misery when you try to do all the activities you love to do like dancing, playing sports, lifting your children or grandchildren, or going to work? Arthritis is one condition that can be incredibly crippling to someone, keeping them from living their life to the fullest. But the good news is, physical therapy can help! It’s about time you show arthritis who’s the boss of your body, and Access Physical Therapy & Wellness is here to help.
Types & Treatment of Arthritis
This is the most common chronic type of arthritis that is usually found in certain toe joints, the hips, small joints in the hand, the knees, and the spine. At Access Physical Therapy, our goal is to help you manage your symptoms with:
- Losing weight if needed
- Aerobic exercise
- Strengthening and range of motion exercises
- Educational programs to show you how to tape the knee
- Using adaptive equipment
This is a long-term, inflammatory form of arthritis that is considered an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks the tissues in your body. The treatment for this includes both physical therapy treatment and medication:
- TENS machines that assist with pain. These deliver electrical currents through the painful area and work essentially to override the pain sensations.
- Massages
- Hydrotherapy to ease the pain
- Education on resting positions
Viral arthritis is the swelling and irritation of the joints caused from a viral infection. This type of arthritis rushes through the body pretty quickly. The only treatment recommended for this is either a medication prescribed by your doctor or a hot or cold pack on the inflamed joints.
This is a disease in which defective metabolism of uric acid builds up in the body and causes arthritis, especially in the smaller bones of the feet, deposition of chalkstones, and episodes of acute pain. Over time, patients with gout can develop lumps that grow around crystal deposits in joints, or Tophi, which most often occurs in the fingers, wrists, ears, knees, elbows, forearms, and heels. The treatment at Access Physical Therapy includes:
- Decompressing the affected joint
- The use of modalities such as ice, ultrasound, or laser to calm your joint down
- Changing your diet plan
If you or someone you know are suffering from arthritis pain, you could benefit from physical therapy. We would love to help guide you to comfort. Call us at one of our locations to make an appointment to discuss treatment options and whether or not physical therapy is right for you.
