Don’t Let Arthritis Pain Slow You Down!
If you have arthritis, you are well aware of the difficulties it can cause in traveling and working in everyday life. What you may not realize is that physical therapy will help you find relief from your arthritis pain, and with our in-home services, you can do so without leaving your house.
While there is no cure for arthritis, the onset of arthritis can be delayed and you can feel less discomfort overall if you use the exercises and therapies that your in-home physical therapist will give you.
You have the choice for a safer, more effective path toward arthritis pain management: physical therapy. Call our office and schedule a physical therapy appointment today, at the convenience of your home.
Types of arthritis
Arthritis is a term that refers to a group of painful joint disorders. It can manifest as a painful gout in a toe joint in some people, or it can manifest as a bacterial joint infection in others. The majority of arthritis sufferers, on the other hand, have one of two painful conditions:
- Osteoarthritis – This is the most common form of arthritis, and it is typically the result of a lifetime of joint motion combined with any changes that occur as people age. Healthy joints have a layer of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber and anti-friction factor, as well as a lubricating fluid to keep the bone ends working smoothly. The output of lubricating fluid, on the other hand, will dry up over time, causing the cartilage to become thinner and more aged until it eventually breaks down completely. This causes discomfort, swelling, and inflammation in the joint, which normally gets worse as you try to move or put weight on it.
- Rheumatoid arthritis – This form of arthritis is caused by an auto-immune disease or dysfunction. The same protective mechanisms that normally fight off disease germs decide to turn on your joints, treating them as the enemy and attacking them. This results in painful inflammation that may come and go, leaving joint swelling and deformity in its wake.
What to expect during in-home physical therapy
Your physical therapy sessions probably won’t need to be done on a weekly basis. Once every few weeks to monitor your condition and progress should be sufficient. Your therapist can arrange visits based on your schedule.
Physical therapy visits are often short in duration. Your therapist will be focused on spotting problems with your physical function that are related to arthritis, and teaching you methods you can employ at home to relieve pain.
Maintaining long-term compliance with what your therapist teaches you is the only way to truly obtain arthritis pain relief. It’s important that you follow your physical therapist’s directions to continue making progress!
Consider the various physical aspirations you might have in order to assist your physical therapist in providing you with the best guidance possible.
You might want to be able to do your regular job without straining your hips or knees, reach items high up on a kitchen shelf without pain, or simply get in and out of your car without pain, for example. By communicating your desires to your therapist, you will ensure that your services are tailored to your individual needs.
4 benefits of in-home physical therapy for arthritis
Arthritis attacks the joints of the body, so the goal of physical therapy will be to restore the use of those joints and improve your ability to move around and engage in daily activities.
This can be accomplished by combining exercise to reinforce the support systems around the joints, and also by following instructions on how to travel and participate in activities without aggravating the symptoms. Your physical therapist will recommend a care plan based on how advanced your arthritis is and which areas of your body are affected.
The physical exercises your therapist will teach you will be directed toward improving your mobility, range of motion, flexibility, and coordination. Your plan may include any combination of:
- Posture: Your therapist will teach you various body mechanic techniques that will improve joint function and reduce pain. You will also be taught ways to use your strongest muscles and joints to relieve pressure on arthritic joints.
- Environmental modifications: Your physical therapist can make specific recommendations for additional therapeutic aids based on your type of arthritis. These can include ergonomic furniture or cushioned mats in areas of your home or at work where you tend to stand on your feet for long periods of time.
- Treatments: Modern physical therapy has a broad range of treatment options available to assist with arthritis pain. Hot and cold therapy can relieve the pain and stiffness in joints; braces or splints can help to stabilize and support arthritic joints; shoe inserts can relieve arthritis pain in the lower extremities; and so on.
- Education: Sometimes arthritis in the hip or knee will require the use of assistive mobility devices, such as a cane or walker. Your physical therapist will teach you the proper way to use these devices.
Managing arthritis doesn’t have to be hard
Are you tired of living with arthritis? Does your condition make it hard for you to leave home for treatment? If you are ready for relief from arthritis pain, call Holistic Physical Therapy to schedule your first at-home appointment with a physical therapist.
Sources:
- http://www.apta.org/Blogs/PTTransforms/2016/5/26/Arthritis/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis
Tags: Natural Treatment, Natural Pain Relief, Aches and Pains, Chronic Pain, physical therapy, physical therapists, nutrition, physical activity, opioids, Rehabilitation, physical health, Joint pain
