Are you or a loved one living with arthritis? Are painful and achy joints holding you back from participating in the activities you love? If so, you certainly aren’t alone. Today, 6 million Canadians have arthritis– that’s 1 in 5 people!
While arthritis may pose some limitations to your daily life, there is hope for relief! A physiotherapist can help improve your symptoms of arthritis through:
- Targeted exercises
- Assistive devices
- Ergonomic modifications
- Nutritional/other lifestyle modifications
- Pain-relief modalities (such as manual therapy, ice/heat therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy, and more)
If you or a loved one has been living with arthritis, don’t wait to find relief. It’s time to take the first steps toward living a happier, healthier, and more comfortable life! Contact The Running Physio today to get started.
What are the 2 most common forms of arthritis?
Arthritis includes an entire family of painful joint conditions. For some individuals, it may take the form of painful gout in a toe joint; in others, it can strike due to a bacterial joint infection. The majority of arthritis sufferers, however, suffer from one of two conditions:
- Osteoarthritis - This most common form of arthritis is usually a natural consequence of a lifetime of joint motion, coupled with certain changes that take place during aging. Healthy joints contain not only a lubricating fluid to keep the bone ends moving smoothly, but also a layer of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber and anti-friction component. Over time, however, the production of lubricating fluid can start to dry up, while the cartilage becomes thinner and more worn until it finally breaks down completely. This leaves you with pain, stiffness, and inflammation that usually feels worse whenever you try to move or put weight on the joint.
- Rheumatoid arthritis - This form of arthritis is caused by an auto-immune disease or dysfunction. The same protective mechanisms that normally fight off disease germs decide to turn on your joints, treating them as the enemy and attacking them. This results in painful inflammation that may come and go, leaving joint swelling and deformity in its wake.
Many arthritis sufferers naturally turn to medication in the hopes that it will ease their symptoms. NSAIDs, steroids and (and in the most severe cases) opioid drugs may produce such relief, but only temporarily. These drugs can't address the physical problems that actually cause your symptoms; they can only mute the symptoms themselves.
What's more, painkilling and anti-inflammatory drugs can pose significant risks if they're used constantly. NSAIDs can damage the internal organs, while steroids may contribute to everything from cataracts to osteoporosis. Opioids can be extremely dangerous, not only because of their addictive properties but also because overdoses can (and often do) prove fatal.
How can I benefit from physiotherapy?
If you want an arthritis pain management plan that improves your health without presenting you with the dangers of drugs, turn to physiotherapy. Our physiotherapist can examine your joints to see how advanced your arthritis has become and how it may be affecting your stance, gait or mobility. You'll then receive a customized pain management plan that may include:
- Corrective devices - Your physiotherapist can recommend specialized insoles and train you in the use of devices such as walkers or canes.
- Lifestyle guidance - Your physiotherapist can recommend specific changes to your everyday ergonomics or lifestyle that will ease your pain.
- Exercise - Exercise can aid arthritis sufferers by boosting circulation, easing inflammation, strengthening joint tissues and increasing range of motion. It can help you improve your balance if that's become a problem for you.
- Physiotherapy techniques - You may benefit from massage therapy, cold/heat therapy, or laser therapy.
Contact The Running Physio for relief
Don't just numb your arthritis pain - manage it a smart, safe, and effective way. You do not deserve to be in constant pain or discomfort. It’s time to address your pain and find the relief you’ve been searching for.
Contact The Running Physio to get started on a personalized treatment plan that will help you regain your mobility, comfort, and quality of life!
Sources:
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/4-ways-exercise-helps-arthritis
- http://www.apta.org/Blogs/PTTransforms/2016/5/26/Arthritis/
- https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/pain-management/understanding/types-of-pain.php
- https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/natural/other-therapies/what-is-physical-therapy.php
- https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/medication/drug-types/corticosteroids/benefits-risks.php
