Any form of arthritis can be a serious burden for those who suffer from it. People with arthritis usually have stiff joints and avoid movements that increase pain. While this avoidance may sound like the most logical way to cope with the pain, it actually makes matters worse.

By not moving arthritic joints, the pain and stiffness only grow more intense, which can lead to a vicious and painful cycle over time. Unfortunately, many people living with arthritis struggle to maintain physical wellbeing due to the fear of pain, with one study suggesting that 37% of all arthritis patients are classified as inactive.

Since there is no cure for arthritis, the focus of treatment should be disease management. In addition to regular physical activity, there has been a significant amount of recent research to support the use of physical therapy as an effective way to manage the condition. Physical therapy can help by teaching patients with arthritis how to work out stiffness without further damaging joints with the goal of being able to perform and maintain normal everyday activities without difficulty.

The primary goal of physical therapy is to increase range of motion (ROM) by a series of careful strategies that are individualized for each patient depending on their needs and abilities. Most importantly, physical therapy has been found to be beneficial for all patients with arthritis, regardless of their age or the severity/type of arthritis they are suffering from.

CAM Physical Therapy and Wellness Services LLC can help treat your arthritis with the following strategies performed either at our practice or on your own:

• Our physical therapists can help identify activities that are most painful and create solutions such as prescribing assistive devices for daily living
• We will help you improve your body mechanics (how your body moves) and posture, which may often lead to pain if not done properly
• We will perform manual techniques that will stretch and move joints in such a way that will lead to more overall ROM
• An aerobic exercise program (with your limitation in mind) may also be prescribed, which will increase flexibility and strengthen bones
• We recommend scheduling your workout for the same time every day
• On days where one part of your body is sore, don’t bail on your exercises entirely but shift over to another, less painful part of your body
• Regular heat or ice to painful regions are very helpful to some patients
• Warm-water exercises can also relieve soreness or stiffness due to the buoyancy of water and the soothing properties of the warm water

If you have arthritis and are not satisfied with the treatment you’ve been receiving, physical therapy could be a strategy that’s right for you. Visit CAM at any of our three locations in Laurel, Hyattsville or Glenn Dale/Bowie, MD for immediate care for your arthritis. Call (301) 853-0093 to schedule an appointment, or click here or here for more information on physical therapy for arthritis.