How You Can Treat Arthritis Pain Through Physical Therapy

What is arthritis? 

Arthritis is a diagnosis that means you have pain related to changes in your cartilage, the bone below the cartilage, and inflammation of the synovial membrane. These changes often cause joint swelling, stiffness, and pain. Over 50 million people in the US have arthritis. You may be at risk if you are older in age, obese, have had previous joint injuries, or have a family history of arthritis. 
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Arthritis is a pain. (Literally!) But that doesn't mean you have to stop living. There are ways to treat it. 

How can physical therapy help? 

Physical therapy treats all kinds of physical pain and conditions through exercise and movement. But did you know physical therapy can help you treat your arthritis?

Physical pain from arthritis might tempt you to stay still as some movement can cause pain. You can avoid pain by not moving, but that won't help you out in the long run. Joints that don't move will stiffen even more and become even more sensitive to pain! 

Physical therapy interventions help you increase your range of motion and decrease your pain. How does it do this? It improves the health of all the tissues in and around the joints and makes them more tolerant to activity. 

Many people are skeptical that anything can be done for their arthritis. This is often because they have friends who haven't found relief or they've been told by another doctor that it's only going to get worse. This does not line up with our experience at Rainey Pain & Performance. It is rare that we don't see at least a 50% improvement in pain. 

What now?

If you have been suffering from arthritis, it's time to stop struggling with it on your own. There are plenty of treatments available. 

At Rainey Pain & Performance, we can help you find the best way to treat your arthritis through physical therapy. Our team of providers will come up with a treatment regimen specific to your individual needs. Schedule an appointment today!