Physical therapy is essential when it comes to arthritis because it helps in alleviating joint pain and slowing down the progression of this condition. Your physical therapist will tailor a combination of strategies to provide pain relief for arthritis.
Let us go through some of the things your physical therapy will help you with for getting pain relief for arthritis and improving overall mobility.
- Maintaining or increasing joint range of motion
Joints can get stiff because of osteoarthritis. A physical therapist will help you in increasing the range of motion and enhancing your flexibility. You will be able to bend and straighten your joints with more ease. Even a small improvement in motion can make a large difference in your daily activities. Let us take an example, if a patient is able to bend an arthritic knee more then he/she will be able to sit on chairs and get up from it. Certain exercises will help you in bettering your range of motion and provide pain relief for arthritis.
Ask your physical therapist to suggest some physical therapy exercises based on your condition that will help you with it.
- Strengthening the muscles that support the arthritic joint
In osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage present in a joint wears away. The friction between the joints when they rub against each other can produce immense amounts of pain. The friction can be lessened by strengthening the neighboring muscles. Your physical therapist will help you recognize these areas and will educate you on how to handle the affected parts. Physical therapy and strength training will help you in getting pain relief for arthritis.
Here are some tips for getting started on strength training.
- It is important that you practice strength training 2 to 3 times a week for 30 minutes to avail yourself of its maximum benefits. These exercises must involve stretches and exercises designed to target major muscle groups besides the arthritis-affected parts.
- You need not go to the gym but you can perform physical therapy exercises in the comfort of your home. You can make use of barbells, resistance bands, and even gravity.
- Perform these exercises suggested by your physical therapist when the pain and stiffness are the least.
- Do not forget to warm up before doing any exercises. The warm-up can be a few minutes long and can include some gentle stretches. Use ice therapy after completing your workout and perform some gentle stretches to reduce muscle pain.
- Improving your balance
The loss of balance is arthritis stems from muscle weakness, decreased joint functions, and various other factors. In your physical therapy sessions, your physical therapist will also include components that enhance your balance besides strength training. Balance training might include changing the surface, walking certain distances, and other exercises to enhance your participation in daily activities and assisting you in getting faster pain relief for arthritis.
- Adjusting your Posture
A good posture will decrease the amount of pressure exerted on the joints and hence is a method of providing pain relief for arthritis. Take help from your physical therapist and he will teach you how to improve your posture and so that less stress is exerted on your joints while you walk, sit, stand, or perform other activities. Your physical therapy will suggest various measures you can take to correct your posture when you are at the home, car, or at work.
Simple changes can work wonders in getting pain relief for arthritis.
- Use assistive devices
To reduce the stress exerted on your arthritic joints, your physical therapist might suggest you make use of canes, crutches, splints, shoe inserts, and other assistive devices. The use of assistive devices depends entirely on the severity of your disease.
Increasing your awareness of how to use these assistive devices can help lessen the chances of falling or getting hurt. For instance, you can make use of a cane when you are not in the house. If you have to walk long distances then the cane can prove to be extremely beneficial. Ask your physical therapist for advice on how to use a cane. This will aid you a great deal in developing your functional independence.
Conclusion
It might be impossible to completely erase the effects of degeneration from osteoarthritis. However, physical therapy will help you in lessening and slowing down the degeneration, reducing the symptoms of osteoarthritis, decreasing the stiffness linked with it, and giving pain relief for arthritis. Physical therapy enhances the strength and stability of the muscles
