You probably know that physical therapy Georgetown TX is helpful during recovery from an injury, illness, or surgery. What you may not know is that it is also a treatment option for arthritis, which is pain and inflammation in the joints. Here are some advantages that physical therapy has over other arthritis treatment options and some specific benefits it can offer for arthritis treatment.
PT’s Impact on Arthritis Pain Relief
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage in the joints that prevents bones from rubbing up against each other starts to break down. No one is entirely sure why this happens, although the main risk factor seems to be a genetic predisposition. In other words, if someone in your family has osteoarthritis, you are more likely to develop it as well.
Physical therapy is often an early treatment option for osteoarthritis, along with oral anti-inflammatories and injections of steroids or hyaluronic acid. Once the disease becomes severe, often the only treatment option is surgery to replace the knee with a synthetic joint.
Physical therapy offers advantages over treatment options. Compared to other treatment options, the cost is comparatively low. Applying physical therapy to your existing routine is relatively easy, especially with the help of a fully qualified and licensed physical therapist.
Your course of treatment usually involves visits to the physical therapy clinic several times per week. At first, your therapist may use techniques called modalities to relieve the pain. As your pain improves, your therapist may teach you exercises that you can perform at home and tell you how often to do them.
Pharmacological treatments, especially oral NSAIDs, can often have negative side effects, especially if you have certain underlying medical conditions. Knee replacement surgery requires a doctor to cut open the knee, potentially exposing you to infection. Compared to these treatment options, the risk of adverse effects from physical therapy is very low.
How PT Eases Arthritis Symptoms
There are many ways that physical therapy Georgetown TX can help improve arthritis pain. If you have poor posture, it can put pressure on the joints and contribute to pain. Physical therapy can help relieve this pressure by improving your posture.
It is hard to move your joints when they hurt, but if you stop moving, your muscles can become weak. Weak muscles don’t support your joints as well, which can contribute to poor ergonomics and joint inflammation. Physical therapy can help strengthen your muscles, leading to better support for your joints, which helps to decrease arthritis pain.
Sometimes arthritis causes stiffness as well as pain. Stiffness can make joints difficult to move. Physical therapy can help you increase the range of motion of an arthritic joint. Even a small increase in range of motion can result in a huge improvement in your symptoms.
If your arthritis is severe, you may have difficulty getting around. Assistive devices, such as canes, crutches, and walkers, can help you improve mobility by helping you take pressure off the joints and provide greater stability. A physical therapist can teach you how to use such a device effectively. Find out more about how physical therapy can be part of an effective plan to treat osteoarthritis
