Manage Your Arthritic Pains Once And For All With Physiotherapy
Do you experience stiff and achy joints when you wake up in the morning? Does that pain seem to disappear as you move throughout the day? Are your joints sensitive and painful to the touch? Do you hear “popping” or “clicking” sounds when moving the affected joint(s)? If you can relate to these issues, you may be living with arthritis.
Arthritis is an extremely common condition to develop. Many people wait until their arthritis becomes severe before seeking the help of a physiotherapist, but Physiomed can help you before it reaches that point!
Physiotherapy is extremely beneficial for arthritis sufferers, as it not only relieves pain but also decreases the risk of sustaining an arthritis-related injury. Contact our Vancouver physiotherapy office today at (604) 879-7214 or click here to request a consultation and discuss how our treatment plans can help manage your arthritic pains, once and for all.
The two most common types of arthritis:
Osteoarthritis, the most commonly experienced type of arthritis, is fairly easy to diagnose. There are a couple of different ways in which osteoarthritis can develop, such as a sudden injury, or with gradual “wear and tear” over time.
Sometimes, osteoarthritis can even develop from a seemingly healed injury. Imagine this: you were a football player in school who experienced a harsh knee collision during a game. You get treated for the injury, recover, and return to your sport. However, you continue to notice the lingering pains of your knee injury, even after your football career ends. After an injury heals, it is still possible for arthritis to eventually develop in that affected area – especially if it still experiences the same repetitive overuse after the fact.
This can also be said for labor-intensive careers. Let’s say you’re a carpenter or roofer, whose job requires the repetitive swinging of tools. This puts your joints at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life.
Rheumatoid arthritis, the second most commonly experienced type of arthritis, is not as well understood as osteoarthritis. Referred to as “inflammatory arthritis,” it develops as an autoimmune response, resulting in painful inflammation. If you are living with rheumatoid arthritis, it means that your immune system sees your joints as a threat and subsequently decides to attack them.
Research for the causes of rheumatoid this is still ongoing; however, several experts have come to believe that one’s hormones, medical history, and environment could all be contributing factors to the development of this condition. Since it develops as an autoimmune response, it is also common for the same joints to be affected on both sides of the body.
Understanding the symptoms of arthritis:
The Arthritis Foundation states that approximately 50 million people live with arthritis. Because of this, it is important to understand the symptoms associated with it.
Osteoarthritis wears down the joints. This can be due to the natural deterioration of age, or from repetitive overuse as mentioned earlier. When this happens, the cartilage within the joints no longer acts as a cushion and shock absorber, resulting in the bones rubbing together. This causes mild to severe pain, in addition to tight and sore joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis can cause pain and swelling, and in severe cases may lead to joint deformity or bone erosion. This leads to weakness, stiffness, tenderness, or “pins and needles” sensations.
The daily life of someone living with arthritis can be greatly limited without the help of physiotherapy. Arthritis can make it difficult to work, exercise, and do the activities you love.
Find pain relief for arthritis today:
Physiotherapy can benefit anyone who is suffering from the aches and pains of arthritis. At your initial appointment, you will undergo a physical evaluation to determine the best course of treatment for your needs. Treatment plans will be dependent upon the severity of your conditions and any health risks you may have.
At Physiomed, we are dedicated to providing you with the best quality of treatment by designing individualized treatment plans for the specific recovery goals of each patient. Treatment plans could include targeted techniques aimed at relieving our arthritis symptoms and restoring your joint function. These may include any combination of exercises, stretches, ice and heat therapies, manual therapy, ultrasound, or weight management techniques as our physiotherapist deems fit.
If you have been living with arthritis, or you think you may be experiencing arthritic symptoms, don’t hesitate to Contact Us Today at Vancouver, BC Center for a consult today.. We’ll help you manage your arthritic pains so you can get back to living the life you want to live!
Visit our Vancouver clinic location today to get started! Make an appointment now!
Read our blog post on how to manage your arthritis naturally with physiotherapy by clicking here!
FAQs
What causes arthritis pain?
Because arthritis is a catch-all term, pinpointing what causes arthritis may be difficult. In most cases, arthritis is caused by overuse, wear and tear, or injuries. It is also possible for arthritis to be caused by infections, such as Lyme disease, an immune system dysfunction, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or an abnormal metabolism, which can lead to gout.
What are the different types of arthritis?
There are over 100 different types of arthritis, containing monoarthritis (where only one joint is affected) and oligoarthritis (where multiple joints are affected). Some of the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, which develops from “wear and tear” of cartilage, and rheumatoid arthritis, which develops from overactive immune systems.
Is exercise good for arthritis pain?
Targeted exercises can help ease your arthritic pains. It is possible to maintain an active lifestyle while living with arthritis, but you may need some assistance. Your physical therapist will conduct a physical evaluation to determine what the best course of treatment will be for you. Your physical therapist will then guide you through prescribed gentle exercises that become more intensive as you progress in your treatments, in order to help you achieve your highest levels of physical capability.
What is the best pain relief treatment for arthritis?
Regardless of the cause of arthritis, physical therapy plays a major role in the treatment of its symptoms. Physical therapy should always be the first method of treatment, before resorting to more aggressive procedures, such as surgery. In fact, in many cases, physical therapy can even eliminate the need for risky treatment methods altogether, such as harmful pain-management drugs or invasive surgical correction. If the condition is severe and surgery is required, physical therapy can also help you prepare and recover from your procedure