Arthritis is often a debilitating condition regardless of its severity. Simple tasks become so difficult to handle and painful after a while that you don’t want to do them.

 

There are a lot of pharmaceuticals designed to help you with arthritis, but those almost always have side effects or other issues you need to worry about. What if we could offer you a genuine solution that didn’t have all those strings attached?

 

Let’s see if physical therapy can help you with arthritis.

 

Does Physical Therapy Help with Arthritis?

 

Getting straight to the point, yes. Physical therapy can help with arthritis and get you back to normal life.

 

 

However, it’s a bit more complicated than simply going to therapy and expecting your arthritis to go away. While it’s an effective treatment, it’s a process just like any other long-term support for chronic pain.

 

How Does Physical Therapy Help with Arthritis?

 

Arthritis is a unique type of condition. It’s typically caused by the cartilage in joints being broken down over time, and the joints become less mobile. This can happen for a variety of reasons including obesity, previous injuries to the affected area, auto-immune diseases, and more.

 

Physical therapy can’t repair that cartilage, but it does help get rid of inflammation.

 

Inflammation, while not always visible, is a form of swelling. It’s supposed to be a positive thing. It provides a layer of protection for injured joints and body parts.

 

However, when that swelling stays around too long, or it gets out of control, it can cause debilitating pain by pushing on the injury every time you move.

This is what causes most arthritis pain. Inflammation puts pressure on joints that are already damaged, and rather than offering a layer of protection, it creates a painful experience every time you try to move the affected joint.

 

Physical therapy focuses on reducing that inflammation by working the affected joint in a way that doesn’t make the problem worse but stretches the joint and reduces the amount of swelling. As the inflammation goes down, the pain subsides.

 

What Should You Expect Physical Therapy to Be Like?

 

With physical therapy treatments, you won’t be going into a doctor’s office and walking out with tons of prescriptions. Instead, the treatment consists of exercises.

 

The exact exercises you can expect to do will vary dramatically depending on what part of your body is being treated, but the general approach is a variety of stretches.

 

These stretches are designed to gently and slowly ease the joint into movement, allowing it to work itself. This does two things: first, it triggers the body’s natural healing response and reduces inflammation naturally.

 

Second, it helps the joints strengthen and become more flexible, which helps restore mobility to the joints over time.

 

There might also be various strength-building exercises added to your treatment plan if the therapist you’re working with deems them appropriate. Simple exercises such as lifting weights, pushing or pulling heavier objects, and similar exercises are commonly used.

 

These exercises help strengthen the joints, but because you’re being guided by a professional, these exercises can be done with minimal pain or risk of further injury.

 

However, physical therapy isn’t just a bunch of stretches and exercises. Depending on your needs, it encompasses far more than that.

 

Part of your physical therapy routine will likely include dietary monitoring and guidance. Many of the foods you eat can contribute to inflammation, while simply making a few changes can actively work to reduce inflammation alongside the use of exercise.

 

As part of a full wellness program, you’ll also be instructed to start daily activities and habits that can help reduce the pain, drop negative habits that make it more likely for your arthritis to act up such as drinking or smoking, and other things will be implemented to create a full, comprehensive, treatment plan.

 

How Long Does Physical Therapy Take to Work?

 

As we said, physical therapy isn’t a treatment that tries to mask the problem as many pharmaceutical options do instantly. It’s a process that aims to solve the core issue using the body’s natural ability to heal itself. As such, it takes time.

 

Patients can expect immediate relief after each therapy session, but long-lasting change takes time and effort. Since arthritis doesn’t simply go away, this particular form of treatment might even be indefinite or periodically necessary to restart depending on how well you maintain the results.

 

Can I Do Physical Therapy at Home?

 

Physical therapy can help with arthritis even if you do it at home. At-home routines are extremely common in these treatments. You’ll likely be given in-depth instructions on what to do at home to help further your progress and maintain the results you’ve achieved.

 

Things such as simple stretches you can do periodically are commonly taught to patients so they can do them without supervision.

 

However, it’s important to go to physical therapy in the first place. Not only is that how you get professional guidance for what you can do at home, but the treatments performed during in-person therapy sessions must be supervised to ensure they’re being done properly.

 

Overexerting the joints, doing the exercises improperly, or otherwise making common mistakes when handling it alone can make the situation far worse.

 

Does Physical Therapy for Arthritis Pain Provide Other Benefits?

 

While a patient seeking arthritis relief will have a treatment plan designed to handle arthritis, other benefits naturally come along with going to physical therapy.

 

Primarily, the natural increase in flexibility, mobility, and joint strength will naturally make further injuries or problems less likely.

 

The general dietary and lifestyle guidance provided as needed also promotes a higher degree of general wellness. From helping promote better weight management to enforcing the need to stop negative habits such as smoking and drinking, many benefits can stem from your arthritis treatment plan.

 

Where to Get Physical Therapy Treatment for Arthritis

 

Now that you understand how physical therapy can help with arthritis, it’s crucial to find the best physiotherapy clinic in Austin, TX.

 

If you’re suffering from arthritis and want to reclaim your life, Expert Manual Therapy is the perfect choice for you.

 

Our team will create a custom treatment plan based on your needs, limitations, and unique situation. Our talented professionals will guide you on your road to arthritis pain relief.

 

Book your first appointment with Expert Manual Therapy today.