Arthritis

Dealing With Arthritis Pain? Relief Is On The Way!

Achieve pain relief from arthritis through physical therapy in Fredericksburg

Have you been waking up with stiff joints that make it difficult to get moving in the morning? Even if they may become less painful as the day goes on, but you may be experiencing early-onset arthritis.

Arthritis is a common condition that many people develop; however, many live with their painful joints for far too long before seeking professional help.

Thankfully, physical therapy is an excellent treatment option for arthritis pain. One of our licensed physical therapists at Hilltop Physical Therapy in Fredericksburg will provide you with gentle exercises to help improve your range of motion, flexibility, and overall function in the affected joint(s). They can also evaluate which joints are stiff and painful, and assess which exercises will be beneficial in providing pain relief for your arthritis during everyday activities.

If you are suffering from arthritis, or you think you may be experiencing arthritic symptoms, request an appointment at Hilltop Physical Therapy today.

Types of arthritis

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and are the two most commonly experienced types. Arthritis causes pain and inflammation, and it can affect one or multiple joints at once. According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis affects over 50 million people and it is currently the leading cause of disability across the nation.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers have come to believe that a person’s medical history, environment, and hormones could all be contributing factors toward the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis develops as an autoimmune response, meaning that the immune system sees the joints as a threat and decides to attack them. Rheumatoid arthritis is also referred to as “inflammatory arthritis,”and is also fairly common.Because it is an autoimmune condition, it is common for it to affect the same joints on different sides of the body.

This condition is typically more prevalent in females than males as well. Those suffering from arthritis typically report soreness around joints, which is worse after prolonged sitting, standing, or inactivity.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may notice that pain can get worse when you move, for example, bending over at the knees to pick something up may be uncomfortable for you. You may notice popping or clicking sounds in the affected joint(s) with movement, and the joint may be sensitive or painful to the touch. Arthritis can also cause pain when you exercise or work, and the pain may go away after you stop doing that activity. For those who had finger or hip replacements due to rheumatoid arthritis, Hilltop Physical Therapists are well equipped to assist the rehabilitation process. We are pain specialists, so while gaining motion, we can help you reduce your pain from the new joint replacements.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is typically easy to diagnose, as it is the most commonly experienced form of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage of the joint 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. Without a cushion, the bones grind together, which in turn causes an inflammatory response in the joint.

Osteoarthritis can be caused by a sudden injury to the joint, or it can develop after a previous injury has fully healed.

Also, an old injury when younger, without a proper treatment can lead to a detrimental disability in older age. Let’s say you played football in high school and never received treatment, can turn into early arthritis prior to you being aware of the problem. Our trained physical therapists are dedicated toward helping you achieve a pain-free life.

Although the injury healed, damage occurred to the surrounding cartilage or muscles has shortened simultaneously. As a result, there is a decreased joint support, decreased motion of the joint, altering function, and development of osteoarthritis from that injury later in life.

In the same way, those who have jobs with repetitive motion or overuse of specific body parts, will wear out those joints, deteriorating it, causing earlier arthritis. For example, say you are a construction worker; You swing a hammer in repetitive motions as a crucial part of your job, you may develop osteoarthritis in the joints of your elbows or hands.

Being overweight may also put you at a higher risk for developing osteoarthritis, as it adds additional strain to your knee and hip joints.

Physical therapy can provide relief for arthritis pain

Exercise based recuperation through physical therapy helps by reestablishing the typical movement of your joints, improving the strength of supporting muscles, and improving the manner in which you walk, run, twist, and move.

In many cases, physical therapy treatments can even help you avoid the need for surgery and harmful, possibly addicting medications. Our treatments are tailored to your specific needs to help you recover quickly and have a more permanent outcome. We also teach you ways to prevent future joint injury, and what you can do on your own with the correct therapeutic exercises.

If you are suffering from arthritis, or you think you might be, you could greatly benefit from physical therapy treatments at Hilltop Physical Therapy.

End your arthritis problem today

Arthritis only holds you back. You deserve to enjoy life without nagging pain. So what are you waiting for?

Contact Hilltop Physical Therapy today to find out how our services can help you find long-lasting pain relief for your arthritis. We treat all of our patients with the highest levels of care, compassion, and understanding. You can rest assured that your symptoms and concerns will be taken into consideration as your customized treatment plan is built out for you. The earlier treatment is the best.

Don’t let your arthritis limit you any longer – request your appointment today at our Spotsylvania physical therapy clinic in Fredericksburg!