Living With Arthritis: Advice from a Physiotherapist
Arthritis is a broad term that encompasses over 100 different types of joint pain and disease. Many people believe that arthritis only affects the elderly, but this is not true.
According to Healthline, “arthritic symptoms usually develop over time, but they can also appear suddenly.” Arthritis is most common in people over the age of 65, but it can also affect children, teenagers, and younger adults. Arthritis affects more women than men and people who are overweight.”
According to a study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, approximately 30% of male athletes who regularly participate in contact sports such as football, basketball, or soccer will develop knee and hip arthritis at some point.
Many people try to relieve their pain with over-the-counter medications, but they can have unpleasant, long-term side effects. Don’t worry, physiotherapy is a great option if you want a natural and safe treatment for arthritic pains! Contact Lake Country Physiotherapy today to learn how you can stop taking pain relievers while also alleviating your arthritis pain.
Do you have one of these types of arthritis?
- Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. This particular condition is caused by a reduction in joint cartilage as it wears away over time. This degeneration causes bones to rub together, which leads to pain and swelling. Physiotherapy can often help to reduce osteoarthritis pain without medication, especially if the arthritis is mild to moderate.
- Inflammatory Arthritis: With some cases, the body’s immune system will attack joint tissues and cause intense inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is one example of this type of condition. Inflammatory arthritis often stems from a genetic cause, and it is usually treated with heavy doses of drugs and over-the-counter medications. However, depending on the severity of symptoms, physiotherapy may be recommended for treatment as well.
- Metabolic Arthritis: This kind of arthritis is typically caused by reduced kidney function. The most common type of metabolic arthritis is gout, a condition caused by uric acid crystals building up in the joints of the extremities, especially the feet. Physiotherapy can help gout patients restore range of motion in the affected area and even reduce the buildup of the acidic crystals that accumulate in the joints.
What can I do to avoid arthritis aches and pains?
When living with arthritis, it is important to understand that if you don’t want to feel the pain you’ve always experienced, you will have to learn new ways to move around.
It is not always easy to know what movements or actions bring on your painful twinges though — sometimes just standing up too quickly can cause arthritis in your knee joints to tense and twist in an unexpected way. This is why learning new ways to move is helpful; it can aid you with avoiding these unwelcome symptoms.
Your physiotherapist can teach you which motions lead to discomfort, and show you how to avoid them and further protect your joints. These joint protection techniques can be as simple as carrying a purse with a particular kind of strap to take pressure off your wrists.
Another example is getting out of your car or into the shower in a different way. Your physiotherapist will make sure you have a solid understanding of what is and is not OK to do at home as far as keeping your joints unaffected.
Physiotherapists don’t just focus on the big stuff though! If you have arthritic fingers, your physiotherapist can show you how to carry objects with your palms instead of grasping them with your fingers.
Physiotherapy can also give you access to new gadgets and technology that make daily tasks much less challenging for you as well.
Focusing on painful joints
It is true that sometimes the best remedy for arthritic joints is to get some bed rest. However, it’s very impractical for many of us to take long bouts of rest in bed or at home away from work.
There’s also the fact that not getting enough exercise or activity into your daily routine can worsen the condition by weakening your muscles.
Thankfully, there is a solution to this! Your physiotherapist will know how to isolate a painful joint by bracing it. Bracing provides natural pain relief for patients with arthritis.
Treatment may include wrist splints or neck collars, depending on the central location of your pain. No matter where your pain might be, there is a specialized treatment option for that joint!
Enhancing your range of motion
Stiff joints are no fun for anyone, but for people struggling with arthritis, a stiff joint equates to a painful joint.
If a patient with arthritis attempts to push their affected joint out of its range of motion, they will inevitably experience many uncomfortable sensations.
These painful twinges can be downright agony to deal with on a daily basis, which is why it is important to increase flexibility and range of motion.
This can be achieved through physiotherapy. Range of motion treatment usually involves flexibility and strength exercises, which gradually allow your joints to become more limber and strengthen supporting muscles.
Manual therapy for pain relief
Manual therapy is the part of physiotherapy that involves hands-on treatment. This kind of treatment both pampers arthritis patients and eases their discomfort.
Pain relief treatment in manual therapy often forms a large portion of a physiotherapy session for someone with arthritis. Heating pads, ice packs, massage, and even certain kinds of machines all play a crucial role in relieving aching joints.
As mentioned above, your physiotherapist may alternate between heating pads and ice packs to naturally relieve your pain.
They might also use ultrasound machines to send soothing heat waves deeper into your painful joints. Targeted massage techniques also boost circulation and creates a warming sensation for areas affected by arthritis.
How can diet affect my arthritis?
Did you know that a healthy diet can help decrease arthritis pains? When you are experiencing pain and inflammation, it is important to stay away from foods containing high levels of sugar, MSG, and refined carbs. Some foods that can help ease your symptoms include:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Ready to find relief? Contact Lake Country Physiotherapy today
Say goodbye to harmful medication. Contact our Orillia office today to get on the road to recovery from arthritis pain!