A physiotherapist can help to manage arthritis pain and discomfort. They can also teach you how to avoid injury and protect your joints. A physiotherapist can also recommend assistive devices like walkers and braces to help improve mobility and reduce dependency on others for everyday tasks. Whether you have a hip or knee replacement, an elbow or wrist problem, or rheumatoid arthritis, a physiotherapist can provide advice on managing your condition to improve your quality of life.
Having regular sessions with a physiotherapist is very helpful in managing your arthritis. They will assess your condition and create a personalized program for you that includes therapeutic massage techniques, exercises and stretches. They will also perform joint manipulation to restore the range of motion in your affected joints and decrease inflammation. This technique involves gently moving the joint beyond its pain-free range of motion to break up scar tissue and reduce stiffness.
Your physiotherapist ISO Skin Cancer & Laser Clinic will also help you develop a healthy exercise routine that can be performed at home or in a gym. This will include low impact exercises like swimming, cycling, brisk walking, yoga, Tai Chi, or Pilates. Regular exercise can improve the muscle strength around your arthritic joints and help to prevent future deformities. It can also help to get better sleep, which in turn will help your body heal faster.
If you have a specific type of arthritis, such as gout, lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), your physiotherapist will tailor a treatment plan to fit your needs. For example, they may suggest a program of supervised weight training for SLE patients to increase muscle mass. They may also recommend a series of ice and heat treatments to help manage your pain.
Depending on the type of arthritis, your physiotherapist will also recommend or prescribe medication. Commonly, these are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. This medication will not treat the disease, but it will reduce pain and swelling. Injections can also be effective in relieving symptoms. Hyaluronic acid injections provide lubrication to the joints and reduce friction, while regenerative medicine injections such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem cells, or prolotherapy can stimulate cell and tissue healing.
The best way to manage arthritis is through early diagnosis and a customized treatment plan. Seek a physiotherapist as soon as you start experiencing pain or have trouble using your joints. The sooner you get treatment, the more likely you are to avoid permanent joint damage. Educate yourself about your condition and take a self-management course to learn how to use daily assistive devices, practice proper lifting and posture at work or in the household, and use other strategies for protecting your joints. It is also important to keep up with your doctor’s appointments and reach out if you notice any new symptoms.