Take a Proactive Approach to Arthritis Pain with Physical Therapy
Have you recently learned that your persistent joint pain is the result of arthritis? For many, this can be a challenging discovery, as the most common forms of arthritis have no known cures. But rest assured that you do not have to spend your life living with debilitating joint pain — physical therapy can help!
Arthritis refers to several conditions that cause joint inflammation, leading to its two primary symptoms: pain and mobility restriction. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, can cause pain during movement. It’s no surprise, then, that many people with arthritis wind up avoiding physical activity.
In reality, regular physical activity is one of the best ways to manage arthritis pain. Physical activity can also help delay the progression of arthritis — and help you avoid surgery.
As movement experts, the team at The Physical Therapy Institute is well-equipped to help you manage your arthritis pain. The physical therapy approach to arthritis management focuses on drug-free pain relief and regular movement. Best of all, it allows you to take a proactive role in your treatment.
Let’s look at what happens when you exercise regularly with arthritis — and what happens when you don’t. And if you’d like to learn more, call us to schedule an appointment today!
Got Arthritis? What To Expect if You Skip Regular Exercise
- Your muscles will weaken: One of the big benefits of exercise is that it builds muscle mass. If you don’t exercise regularly, your muscle mass will decrease — especially if you’re older, as muscle mass naturally decreases as we age. What does this mean if you have arthritis? Without strong muscles, your impacted joints don’t get the strength and stability they need to function, which puts even more stress on them — and means more pain in the long run.
- Your joints will get stiffer: Our bodies are made to move, and when we don’t move them frequently enough, our joints don’t get the lubrication they need to run properly. This is as true for people with arthritis as it is for anyone else. Plus, since arthritis causes joint stiffness, not moving will only worsen your symptoms.
- You increase your risk of injury: When you don’t exercise, you start to lose everyday abilities like balance, stability, and coordination. You can also develop muscular imbalances, improper biomechanics, or postural issues, all of which increase your odds of suffering an injury.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“I had shoulder surgery but was skeptical about doing therapy. After a couple of weeks into my rehab, I am making great improvements thanks to the staff of PTI. They have me doing some effective stretching exercises and slowly introducing some weights. Everyone is very friendly and professional. I am glad I chose to do my rehab here.”
– J.M.
What Happens When You Do Exercise with Arthritis
- You’ll experience less pain: While it’s true that activity can initially worsen arthritis pain, regular exercise will decrease your pain symptoms over time.
- You’ll experience fewer mobility restrictions: Just as regular exercise can decrease pain, it will also help improve your range of motion — meaning you can move more easily.
- The progression of your arthritis may slow: Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis — the two most common forms of arthritis — will gradually worsen over time and may eventually require you to undergo surgery. Exercising won’t cure arthritis, but it will slow the damage to your joints.
- You may feel more empowered: Living with a chronic condition is hard. Regular exercise can help you feel like you’re taking an active role in managing your condition and reducing your pain.
- You’ll experience other physical and mental benefits: Exercise offers many benefits beyond pain management. It can improve mood and quality of sleep, protect you from heart disease and diabetes, and help you stay active and independent well into old age.
Ready to Start Exercising? The Physical Therapy Institute Can Help!
While the benefits of regular exercise for arthritis are undeniable, getting started can be challenging. Which movements are safe for you to perform? Which will provide you with the most benefits? What should you do if even simple movement is too painful? This is where our physical therapists shine! We’ll create a customized arthritis treatment plan that speaks to your needs and abilities. Here’s a taste of all that we can offer:
- Acute pain management using manual techniques and pain relieving modalities
- Personalized exercise programs with targeted, progressive exercises that build strength and improve mobility
- Specialized exercise programs to address balance and other functional challenges
- Guidance on general exercise programs to keep you moving outside our clinic
We Can Help You
Don’t let arthritis keep you from living an active, healthy lifestyle. Call us today to find out more about our arthritis treatment programs!
Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats with Chia
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup plain nonfat greek yogurt (or use vanilla!)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any milk)
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (gluten free if desired)
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, mix together greek yogurt, almond milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla and 1 tablespoon maple syrup until well combined.
- Stir in oats, chia seeds and pumpkin pie spice. Taste and add more maple syrup if you want it sweeter.
- Pour into a glass jar or container and place in fridge for 4 hours or overnight. Makes 1 serving of pumpkin overnight oats.
Tyler Hettich, PT, DPT
Staff Spotlight: Tyler Hettich
Received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Allegheny College in 2021. Tyler continued his education at the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2023.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Quick Dive
Most discussions of arthritis focus on osteoarthritis, and for good reason: it’s the most common form of arthritis in the United States. However, about 2-3% of the population develops rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It causes similar symptoms as osteoarthritis, including joint pain and limited mobility.
The good news is that physical therapy can help manage rheumatoid arthritis just as it can osteoarthritis. If you’ve recently received an RA diagnosis, schedule an appointment at The Physical Therapy Institute to learn what we can do for you.
What You Should Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis
What It Is
RA is an autoimmune condition occurring when your body’s immune system attacks otherwise healthy cells–in this case, the soft tissue in your joints. Researchers currently aren’t clear on what causes this to happen, however.
Signs and Symptoms
RA’s symptoms tend to go through cycles of flares and remissions. This means you’ll have periods where symptoms are more intense and periods where they are less troublesome. These symptoms include:
- Pain and swelling in joints on both sides of your body
- A gradual onset of joint pain, starting with the small joints in your fingers
- Stiffness and restricted range of motion in the affected joints, particularly first thing in the morning
- Redness, warmth, and tenderness in the affected joints
- Fatigue, low-grade fever, and a general sense of feeling unwell
What Else Should I Know?
- RA is more common among women than men.
As with other forms of arthritis, regular physical activity can help manage RA symptoms. In fact, physical therapy at The Physical Therapy Institute offers a great, drug-free approach to managing RA.
Want to learn more? Call to schedule your appointment today!