Physical Therapy for Arthritis

Five ways physical therapy can help people with arthritis

You need your joints to stay strong and flexible so you can enjoy your favorite activities and do your work or chores. However, it’s difficult to do any of these activities when your joints are affected by arthritis.

Arthritis causes the cartilage in the joints to break down over time. As it breaks down, the cartilage can fragment, leading to little pieces of it getting wedged in your joints. This can be painful and limit your range of motion. Additionally, damage cartilage leads to bone-on-bone grinding in your joints, which causes further pain and range-of-motion issues.

Treatments for arthritis vary depending on its severity, but one treatment that can benefit almost every arthritis patient at any stage of the disease is physical therapy.

Five ways physical therapy helps treat arthritis

Treatments for arthritis cannot cure the disease, but they can help manage the pain and improve your range of motion. Physical therapy for arthritis is beneficial for a number of reasons:

  • Improved strength — Stronger muscles help to provide better support for the joints, which reduces pressure on them that can aggravate pain from arthritis. 
  • Improved range of motion — Stretches and hands-on therapy techniques can help improve your range of motion, so you can make easier movements with your arthritic joints. 
  • Improved balance — Arthritis in the knees, hips or lower back can affect your ability to balance. Your physical therapist can guide you through balance exercises that help lower your fall risk. Stronger and more flexible muscles also help to improve your balance. 
  • Improved posture — Poor posture can put additional strain on your joints, which causes increased pain and stiffness. Your physical therapist can review your posture and help you make improvements to reduce pressure off your joints. 
  • Reduced need for medication or surgery — Pain medications can cause unwanted side effects or be addictive. Surgery can be risky, painful and expensive and requires a long time for recovery. Treating your arthritis with physical therapy can help reduce your dependency on medication and lower your need for surgery.

Visit SOL today for arthritis treatment

Is arthritis pain and stiffness causing you to miss out on the things you love? Our team at SOL is here to help. We can provide a personalized treatment plan designed to help you manage your condition and improve your quality of life. Contact our team today for more information about arthritis treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.

About the author

Sports + Orthopedic Leaders Physical Therapy & Performance Training serves the communities of Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Orinda, San Francisco and beyond. SOLPT’s award winning team of Physical Therapists, Performance Coaches and movement experts has helped thousands reach their rehabilitation and performance goals to move beyond pain. We're committed to helping anyone of any fitness level move effectively and more powerfully for a lifetime. We offer rehabilitation and performance services to all populations, with specialties in Sports Rehabilitation, Active Release Techniques, and Manual Therapy Techniques plus Personal and Small Group Training, Sport Clinics and Wellness Services.

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