Millions of people suffer from joint pain and stiffness as a result of arthritis. Many arthritis patients take many steps each day to alleviate their stiff and aching joints. Physical therapy can be a useful component of a pain-relieving approach that also allows you to stay active.
Staying physically active through physical therapy:
While exercise will not cure arthritis, it will help to slow down the progression of the disease and lower the severity of the symptoms.
Maintaining a healthy body weight, as recommended by your physical therapist, can also help you maintain a healthy body weight and reduce the pressure on your joints. A physical therapist can demonstrate a range of stretches and exercises that can help you relieve pain in your joints.
Physical therapy may also assist you in avoiding the use of excessive amounts of medication to alleviate your discomfort. A physical therapist is qualified to assess your ailment and prescribe the appropriate exercises.
Aquatic therapy is a popular physical therapy exercise for arthritis patients because it provides a pleasant, low-impact workout. Working out in a heated pool may also be recommended by a physical therapist to assist ease the discomfort in your arthritic joints.
Eating the right foods to stay healthy
Nutrition can help to alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis. You’ll want to include some specific foods to your diet that can help reduce your arthritis pain, in addition to avoiding MSG, refined carbs, and sugary meals that aggravate inflammation. Some of them are as follows:
- Ginger. Ginger may be able to help reduce inflammation and alleviate arthritis pain. It also adds incredible flavor to almost any food, including soups, fruits, veggies, and meat.
- Soy. Soy is high in protein and low in fat, and it is also a great-tasting way to fight inflammation. You can get your soy through tofu, soy milk, or roasted soybeans.
- Walnuts. Much like the nutrients, you find in fish, walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation. Walnuts can be eaten alone or added to almost any sweet or salty dish.
- Broccoli. Broccoli has an ingredient called sulforaphane, which has the ability to slow down or even prevent osteoarthritis. Broccoli is great served hot or cold, in salads, or as a casserole.
Working with a physical therapist:
A physical therapy treatment program can ease the pain from arthritis and help improve your daily life. Working with a physical therapist can help you achieve the following goals:
- Learning how to correctly use devices. A trained physical therapist can help you learn how to use orthotics, walkers, and any other assistive device correctly. This will help lessen the strain on joints when you move and ensure that you are using the devices safely.
- Strengthening your muscles. When the muscles that surround and support your aching joints are stronger and more flexible, your arthritis pain will be much less severe. Physical therapy techniques can be used to increase strength, which in turn will relieve pain.
- Increasing your range of motion. A physical therapy program can help reduce stiffness by keeping both your muscles and ligaments loose. This will lessen your pain and improve your overall range of mobility.
What kinds of arthritic pain relief methods are there?
In order to help relieve arthritic pain, a skilled physical therapist may use a variety of treatment modalities. Massage, for example, can be used by a physical therapist to loosen up the muscles and tendons that surround your arthritic joints. In order to alleviate inflammation, physical therapy treatments may involve the use of ice packs and ice baths.
To loosen up your stiff muscles, your physical therapist may use heating pads or other heat treatments. As determined by your physical therapist, laser or ultrasound treatments may also be used to provide relief.
Getting started with your physical therapy treatment program
A qualified physical therapist can put together an individualized program to help reduce your arthritis pain and keep you as active as possible. Physical therapy is an excellent way to keep your joints, tendons, and muscles working together efficiently. Contact our office today to see how physical therapy can help you relieve your arthritis symptoms and live a pain-free life!
Sources:
- https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-arthritis.php
- https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/
Dr. James Pumarada is a licensed Physical Therapist and co-owner of Complete Physical Rehabilitation. With over 20+ years of treatment experience, he is a Sports Therapy Certified physical therapist, focusing on treating and training runners of all levels, and is one of the most sought after vestibular therapy specialists in Elizabeth and Jersey City where, along with his wife, Dr. Asha, they specialize in the treatment of all dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance issues.