How to treat arthritis pain

When it comes to relieving your arthritis aches and pains, you may have more options than you realize. There is a lot you can do to reduce your aches and pains from arthritis while gaining more mobility and function. Arthritis pain and inflammation is what we help our patients day in and day out with. If you want to know how to relieve and reduce the pain of arthritis, try physical therapy first. Patients often experience pain from arthritis because of stiff joints, muscles and other tissues. In addition, muscles become weak, therefore not supporting the arthritic joints. Our customized treatments promote muscle strength, improve range of motion, increase mobility and ease pain. In addition, coupling your physical therapy with the following can help you live life to the fullest and get you back to doing the things you love:
1. Education and self-management
When your physical therapy is over, your therapist will have equipped you with the knowledge and exercises you need to continue progressing on your own.
2. Weight loss
Maintaining your recommended weight or losing weight if you are overweight can lessen your pain by reducing stress on your affected joints. Weight loss specifically helps ease pressure on weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees.
3. Footwear and insoles
If arthritis affects the knee, special footwear and insoles can reduce pain and improve walking.
4. Knee braces
For osteoarthritis with knee instability, a knee brace can reduce pain. In addition, it improves stability and reduces the risk of falling.
5. Heat and cold
Many people find the heat of a warm bath, heat pack or paraffin bath eases arthritis pain. Others find relief in cold packs. Still others prefer alternating the two. Learn more about what can work best for you by talking to our physical therapists.
6. Exercise
Exercise has been proven to help reduce arthritis pain while increasing strength and function. Knowing the right kind of exercises to do is the key. Talking with our physical therapists will point you in the right direction.
If arthritis pain is preventing you from doing all the activities that you love, we can develop a customized treatment plan to reduce your pain and improve your mobility. Call us today to get started!