What Is Arthritis?
Do you ever wake up feeling as if your joints are stiff or tight? Do they ache as you get moving in the morning, becoming less painful as the day goes on? If so, those sore joints could be arthritis, which affects almost 54 million Americans, but many choose to live with their painful joints for far too long before seeking help.
Our licensed Physical Therapists at Med Center Therapy will evaluate which joints are stiff and painful, and assess which exercises will be beneficial in providing pain relief and increasing your range of motion in your arthritic joints. The goal for you is prevent your arthritis from interfering with everyday activities and help you prevent injuring yourself in the future.
If you are suffering from arthritis, or you think you may be experiencing arthritic symptoms, Contact Us today at Med Center Therapy to schedule an appointment. One of our licensed Physical Therapists will provide you with gentle exercises to help improve your range of motion, flexibility, and overall function in the affected joint(s).
Common Diagnoses of Arthritis
Arthritis can attack a single joint in the body, or it can affect multiple joints as a person ages causing pain and inflammation. According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis affects over 50 million people and it is currently the leading cause of disability across the nation.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is typically easy to diagnose. This develops when the cartilage around the joints wears down, either due to age or overuse. This causes pain in the joint, as the cartilage is no longer acting as the thick cushion that it once was. Rheumatoid arthritis, also referred to as “inflammatory arthritis,” is not as easily understood. It is an autoimmune disease that can affect the joints on both sides of the body, and it is typically more prevalent in females than males.
What Are The Symptoms of Arthritis?
Here are the main symptoms that a person experiences with arthritis:
- Stiff, sore joint (or joints), especially in the morning; the pain is lessened after about 30 minutes
- Pain during an activity that goes away when you rest
- “Noisy joints” – You hear all sorts of snaps, crackles, and pops when bending the affected joint
- Joint is sensitive or painful to touch
With Rheumatoid arthritis, joints on both sides of the body can be affected at the same time. People with this condition can also suffer from fatigue and loss of joint use.
How Does Arthritis Develop?
Osteoarthritis can be caused by sudden injury to a joint, or can develop from a previous injury that has already fully healed. Overuse of certain joints, often due to labor intensive careers, may lead osteoarthritis in joints that experience repetitive, daily motion. If you are overweight, increased strain on the hip and knee joints can increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis develops as an autoimmune response, meaning that the immune system sees the joints as a threat and decides to attack them. Researchers have come to believe that your medical history, environment, and hormones could all be contributing factors toward the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
How Will Aquatic Physical Therapy Help My Arthritis?
At Med Center Therapy, our warm 94 degree therapeutic pools provide an environment that reduces stress and promotes relaxation arthritic joints. Mineralized water in our pools allows for a natural buoyancy for flotation that reduces gravity on aching muscles and joints. Our patients are able to exercise, strengthen and restore proper function to their bodies without the added pain of weight bearing.
Our Physical Therapists create personalized Aquatic and Land Physical Therapy treatment plans that are aimed at relieving pain and reducing the amount of stress and stiffness surrounding your joints. Don’t suffer needlessly with arthritis by thinking it is “just a part of life.” The dedicated Physical Therapists at Med Center Therapy will be happy to help you. Contact Us today!
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