Joint Health
It is a well-known fact that as we become older, our joints gradually become less flexible and less stable than they once were. A past injury that has restricted your mobility or the usual “wear and tear” of osteoarthritis that generally occurs with age are both potential causes of joint pain. Joint pain may be caused by a combination of these factors and many others.
No matter the circumstances, physical therapy may be of assistance to you and your joint health. Make an appointment with Dun-Dix Healthcare Clinic right away to find out how you can get rid of lingering aches and pains so that you may enjoy your life to the fullest without any restrictions. In this blog we will be highlighting why physiotherapy can help with your joint health and why it’s so important to incorporate into your health journey.
A Concise Overview Of Arthritis Treatment Physiotherapy
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that may affect both the joints themselves and the tissues that surround them. This issue is a rheumatic ailment, which means that it may cause you to feel uncomfortable while engaging in activities of everyday living. Osteoarthritis is a prevalent kind of arthritis that affects a significant number of individuals. They report discomfort around the joint, including stiffness, aching, swelling, and pain. The majority of people who have this issue are individuals aged 65 and older. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you should obtain physiotherapy because it may help regulate your pain and reduce the amount of joint damage you experience. Physical treatments, patient education, and support, as well as medication, could all be included in the treatment plan for this condition. The likelihood of acquiring this ailment grows with age, but it may also be exacerbated by other aspects of one’s identity, including gender, family history, obesity, and past joint damage. Therefore, your chances of having it are higher if you are female and live near any of the causes that have been listed.
Causes Of Arthritis
To tell you the truth, there is no one factor that contributes to all forms of arthritis. In a perfect world, the causes of the various types of arthritis would be distinct from one another. On the other hand, the below-mentioned reasons are rather typical.
- Hereditary cause which may lead to conditions like osteoarthritis,
- Infections or Injury
- Abnormal metabolism
- Immune system dysfunction
It is essential to keep in mind, with regard to this health difficulty, that there may be instances when it seems as though there is no probable reason, despite the fact that you may still complain about this issue. You still need to go to the physiotherapist notwithstanding the circumstances. This issue is often brought about as a consequence of the interaction of a number of different causal elements.
Additionally, it has been observed that some individuals have a higher propensity to acquire this issue due to the fact that they have a hereditary predisposition to do so. It is also possible for a person to acquire this disease more quickly than others if they are a smoker or if their job involves more strenuous physical activity. In addition to receiving physiotherapy treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, one may assist in managing this disease by maintaining a healthy diet and taking in the appropriate nutrients.
Types Of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most frequent kind of the numerous varieties of arthritis, although there are many other kinds. As time passes, the bone’s cushioning surface wears away, and bone ends up rubbing against bone. The joints are susceptible to weakening, and joint discomfort is often persistent.
When someone has inflammatory arthritis, something goes wrong with their immune system. It causes inflammation to spread throughout the joints. Erosion of the joints and discomfort in the joints may be caused by this.
When a virus or bacteria makes its way into a joint, it may cause a condition known as infectious arthritis. Even if the infection is cured by medication, arthritis may still progress into a chronic condition.
Uric acid buildup in the body is the underlying cause of metabolic arthritis. It may build up and result in persistent discomfort in the joints.
While it may be difficult to diagnose yourself which type of arthritis you have, meeting with a professional can help you figure out what it is, how it’s caused and how to properly treat it.
Symptoms You Can Experience From Joint Issues
The most frequent symptoms are joint pain, stiffness, and swelling; however, there are other symptoms as well. Among the other symptoms are:
- Sounds like clicking or popping when bent
- Joint instability, also known as buckling
- Weakness in the muscles around the joint
- Fingers with bony growths on them
- A sensation similar to grating or scratching in the knees
- A restricted amount of mobility
A person struggling with this issue is likely to have greater levels of discomfort first thing in the morning. In addition, the discomfort is exacerbated when the patient stands or gets out of bed. In most cases, the morning stiffness will subside within around half an hour. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the symptoms may include weariness, a low-grade fever, a low red blood cell count, inflammation of the eyes, inflammation of the heart muscle, and the beginning of the condition in smaller joints.
Physiotherapy Vs Surgical Intervention
Trying physiotherapy first before choosing for surgery may be the preferable decision, if you’re experiencing joint pain. You not only are able to avoid yourself the money, discomfort, and recovery time associated with surgical procedures but it allows you to manage the condition over time.
People who have arthritis in their knees or backs may benefit from physiotherapy just as much as they would from surgery in terms of having their pain alleviated and their function restored.
Physiotherapy For Those Suffering From Arthritis
Those who suffer from arthritis often benefit greatly from physiotherapy since it helps them regain their mobility. In addition to this, it helps restore normal function to the damaged joints, lessens associated discomfort, and builds up the muscles that support the joints. A physiotherapist will develop a specific treatment plan for the patient to enhance their level of physical function by increasing their flexibility, coordination, and strength.
To be more specific, a physiotherapist will treat arthritis using a combination of exercise and manual treatment. To help enhance joint lubrication, strengthening activities and weight-bearing exercises are included into treatment plans. The discomfort that comes with arthritis may be alleviated as a result of this.
A treatment plan will be developed by a physiotherapist that will target all regions of the body that are contributing to the patient’s discomfort. For instance, if you have discomfort in your knees, the prescribed workout will focus on correcting knee mechanics in addition to the lower back, ankle, and hip. Manual therapy procedures, such as joint and soft tissue mobilization, are only one kind of treatment that physiotherapists utilize to alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis.
Why Did I Suddenly Start Having Pain In My Joints?
Pain and stiffness in the joints may be brought on by a wide variety of different conditions as we’ve previously stated. For instance, when an individual suffers from an acute sprain or strain, the muscles, tendons, ligaments, or even the joint itself may be affected. This may lead to inflammation, which can be painful and make it difficult to move.
An injury to the soft tissues, on the other hand, does not always have to be the result of a traumatic event; rather, it may potentially develop gradually over the course of many weeks, months, or even years. You run the risk of developing chronic tendinitis or bursitis if the activity you participate in, whether it be a sport, your profession, or a pastime, leads you to repeatedly place excess stress on particular joints. Even inactivity might sometimes be enough to cause discomfort in the soft tissues of the body. If your arm has been immobilized in a sling for an extended period of time, you run the risk of developing a disease known as adhesive capsulitis, which is commonly referred to as “frozen shoulder.” This condition may render your shoulder completely useless.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most prevalent conditions that may lead to joint pain and stiffness. This issue is often caused by the age-related degradation of the cartilage that sits between the bones in a joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis is another prevalent kind of the inflammatory joint disease arthritis. It is a painful and debilitating joint ailment that is caused by autoimmune problems.
What Kinds Of Physical Therapy Treatments Will The Doctor Recommend For Me?
The reduction of pain and the enhancement of a patient’s range of motion are two of the primary objectives of physical therapy. Because it is the goal of a physical therapist to contribute to the improvement of the patient’s overall health and wellbeing, a tailored treatment plan will be developed to meet the patient’s particular requirements. The specifics of your ailment, the symptoms you’re experiencing, the way you live your life, and your general state of health will all factor into the formulation of your treatment plan. Your physical therapist could decide to use one or more of the following techniques:
- Joint Mobilization Procedures
Joint mobilization treatments may assist in expanding your range of motion without causing any discomfort and can help boost the function of your joints. Techniques designed to break up internal scar tissue, which may build over previous injuries and create persistent stiffness, may also be of assistance to you.
- Exercises Focusing On Stretching
Exercising the muscles and connective tissues involved in stretching helps damaged muscles and connective tissues recover back to their previous length and range of motion. These exercises are also beneficial for preventing stiffening of joints caused by arthritic conditions. The abbreviation “R.I.C.E.” is an acronym that stands for “Rest,” “Ice,” “Compression,” and “Elevation.” This treatment plan will likely be prescribed to you by your physical therapist if you are currently nursing an acute joint injury. The goal of the plan is to minimize discomfort and swelling.
Get Joint Health Treatments In Mississauga
You don’t need to search any farther if you’re still seeking for a technique to lessen the discomfort in your joints and increase your mobility. Our highly trained and devoted physical therapists would be more than pleased to meet with you for a consultation to explore how our cutting-edge treatments may be able to assist you in obtaining some degree of comfort. Make an appointment for a consultation as soon as possible to get started on the path that will lead to effective treatment and a life free of pain!