Arthritis Pain Relief
Most of us don’t give a second thought to our joints. We tend to ignore the role they play in our daily life, in everything from cooking and typing on a keyboard, to walking, or lifting a child or pet. But when stiffness or aching pains occur, suddenly we realize their importance!
Very often, those aches and pains stem from arthritis, which affects over 54 million Americans. If you’re one of them, don’t let it slow you down. There are proven ways to get moving again, and with far less pain and stiffness.
Hands-On Physical Therapy has many tools and techniques to relieve arthritis pain. Since 1992, we’ve dedicated our practice to creating tailor-made plans, based on advanced diagnostic testing, that ease pain and help you recapture the joy of living!
What is Arthritis?
Simply put, arthritis is basically a serious inflammation of one or more joints. Those joints will be sensitive and painful to the touch, and certain physical activities will hurt until you stop doing them. You may also hear all kinds of sounds (such as snaps or “pops”) when bending or moving the joint.
You may experience arthritis in just one or two of your joints, such as in the fingers. But it’s typical to also feel it in multiple places including hips, knees, your shoulders and lower back.
Osteoarthritis is most common. It stems from wear and tear on joints as, over time, the protective cartilage around them breaks down. Then you feel the irritation and pain from bone rubbing against bone.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Some of the typical causes of arthritis result from:
- Repetitive jobs: Construction workers, carpet/floor installers, and childcare workers frequently develop osteoarthritis. These kinds of jobs rely on repetitive motions like kneeling, bending, twisting, and squatting, all of which wear down cartilage. Baseball pitchers, ballet dancers, pro golfers and football players are also among those who subject their joints to more than the normal amount of repetitive strain.
Injury: Even if you fully recover from an injury to a joint like a hip or knee, that area is now more predisposed to osteoarthritis down the road.
What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is more serious. This is an autoimmune disorder which attacks the joints, but also, affects the lining inside which can later lead to bone deformity. As it progresses, it may also impact other parts of the body. We’re still learning what triggers rheumatoid arthritis, but factors like environment, genetics and hormones (more women than men suffer from it) seem to play a role.
Healthier Ways to Treat Arthritis
Experts including the Centers for Disease Control note that regular physical activity is one of the best ways to combat the pain and stiffness of arthritis. In fact, one CDC study noted that the patients with the most severe joint pain were the least active.
A combination of the right kinds of low-impact exercise with additional types of physical therapy (like stretching) can slow the degenerative effects of arthritis. As the muscles surrounding a joint are made stronger and more stable, there’s less wear and tear on that joint. Manual therapies like massage reduce pain and increase healthy blood flow to the affected areas.
Hands-On Physical Therapy has years of successfully helping arthritis sufferers regain greater flexibility and motion, to reduce their pain and reliance on medication. We do this via a tailor-made plan specifically designed to help your arthritis issues.
(Let us tell you more about how we can help. You can request an appointment by calling us at (929) 647-3721.)
What Are the Right Exercises for Arthritis Pain?
Hands-On Physical Therapy offers many proven options to manage your arthritis.
In the decades we’ve been practicing, we’ve specialized in creating one-of-a-kind plans to deliver the very best results for our clients. For example, not every form of exercise will be helpful for your body; your therapist will assess your unique situation and build a program that may include low-impact activities like stretching, walking, cycling, or water exercises. Strength-building moves using light weights may also be incorporated. Posture improvements can ease pain in your shoulders and low back, and also help prevent injury.
Besides the physical benefits of your custom exercise plan, you’ll also experience an improved mood. It’s not uncommon to experience some depression when dealing with the persistent discomfort of arthritis. Being able to physically move more and engage in your favorite activities again will give you a brighter outlook and renewed interest in life!
How Does Physical Therapy Help With Arthritis?
Physical Therapy is the second ingredient in our prescription for easing the effects of arthritis. Since opening in 1992, Hands-On Physical Therapy has made it one of our core values to stay on top of the very latest therapeutic treatments and their benefits. We offer a whole range of proven therapies which our trained practitioners tailor to your needs.
- Manual Therapy: The relaxing effects from different forms of massage and gentle joint manipulations ease stiffness and pain.
- Electrical Stimulation: Electrodes attached to the skin send subtle electric impulses that improve range of motion and reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis.
- Heat and Cold Therapy: These work together to stimulate your body’s own natural healing abilities. Heat encourages blood circulation and reduces the sensation of pain. Cold reduces swelling and is useful in easing deep pain. Expertly balancing these two therapies can have a dramatic effect on how your body feels.
- Ultrasound: This non-surgical treatment uses precise beams to target and calm the nerves that carry pain signals from arthritis.
In conjunction with a smart, do-able exercise plan, we’ll build a PT schedule that supports your body and makes arthritis less of an “issue” in your life.
Hands-On PT’s Advanced Diagnostics for Arthritis Relief
One important way that Hands-On Physical Therapy differs from other practices is in our expert diagnostics. Treatment starts with advanced tests that reveal exactly what’s going on in your body. Knowing this going in allows us to create an arthritis pain treatment plan to pinpoint your exact needs, thus saving you time, frustration, and money.
Arthritis pain doesn’t have to rule your life. Please schedule an appointment to learn more; we have five convenient locations throughout New York and Long Island. We’d love to discuss all the ways in which we can help you get back to living pain-free!