Sometimes we wake up in the morning feeling stiff and achy joints. 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 may be a minor problem, but your doctor may diagnose you with a condition that necessitates referral to a physical therapist for additional treatment. Our clinic has helped a lot of people with joint aches and pains, so get in touch with us today to learn more. We are completely dedicated to assisting you in improving your quality of life!
The reason you feel so sore in the morning
Your joint tissues grow irritated throughout the day. There’s a strong chance you won’t even realize it by the time you’re sleepy and ready for bed. When you fall asleep, you are usually immobilized for the rest of the night (unless you sleepwalk, of course!) As a result, the inflammation thickens and the joints become even more irritable.
What’s the end result? Your joints feel tight and achy when you get up in the morning. How inconvenient! However, as you start moving around, the inflammation will normally become more fluid-like, and the pain will lessen or disappear entirely.
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!
It may be deeper than that….
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 foods. 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!
According to Healthline, “A plant-based diet provides antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation by eliminating free radicals from the body.” - Improve your posture. If you work in a profession that needs you to be sedentary for the majority of the day, it’s critical to get up every half hour for stretches. Moving about helps to improve circulation and ease joint discomfort.
Having good posture during the day also aids the healthy functioning of your joints. When we slouch or don’t maintain excellent posture, we put undue strain on sections of our bodies that shouldn’t be. - Get quality 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.
Reach out to a physical therapist for help today
Some people feel that working with a physical therapist on a regular basis necessitates being a professional athlete or bodybuilder, but this is far from the case.
Many of the exercises and stretches that a physical therapist may teach and encourage are easy to do at home and don’t require any special tools or equipment. Furthermore, the majority of our patients are ordinary individuals, not Olympic athletes.
If you’re suffering from joint pain, it’s time to find a solution. To learn more about how physical therapy can help you and ease your pain, call our clinic today.
We can arrange for you to visit with one of our mobility consultants for a full examination. He or she will be able to analyze your condition and develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs.
So, what do you have to lose besides pain? Give us a call today!
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