What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a common diagnosis that affects a majority of Americans. Its most common form is osteoarthritis. Typically it affects the articulating joints of the body such as the hip, knee, shoulder and hand. It can also affect the spinal column known as degenerative disc disease (DDD). Symptoms associated with arthritis are as follows:
- Persistent joint pain
- Joint stiffness and inflexibility
- Loss of joint range of motion (ROM)
- Chronic inflammation
- Joint swelling
These symptoms can affect an individual on a daily basis. Depending on the area that is affected some people may experience an inability to tolerate prolonged standing and/or walking. They may also complain of decreased independence with activities of daily living such as grooming, bathing, or reaching overhead. Some facts about arthritis:
- In 2002, it was estimated that 43 million adults in the United States were diagnosed with some form of arthritis.
- It is projected that 67 million Americans age 18 and over will be medically diagnosed with arthritis by the year 2030.
- It has been determined that 66% of individuals with arthritis are overweight or obese.
- Engaging in a moderate physical activity at least 3 times a week will reduce the risk of arthritis related disability by 47%.
How can physical therapy help?
Physical therapy is a conservative, non-invasive and effective way to treat arthritis. The primary focus of therapy is to regain overall ROM and flexibility to help improve joint mobility as well as increase strength and endurance for improved independence with daily activities. This is accomplished in the following ways:
- Flexibility: These exercises help improve overall joint mobility and muscle flexibility.
- Strength: In addition to increasing flexibility, muscle strength is important to provide stability to the affected joint. Not only is muscle used to move a joint, it also acts as a “shock absorber”.
- Endurance: Muscle endurance is another important factor. Endurance is the muscle’s ability to perform an activity over an extended period of time. Strength usually diminishes due to a lack of endurance. With increased endurance strength is preserved. As a result and individual can tolerate daily activities for an extended period of time.
In addition, physical therapy can also provide some residual benefits such as:
- Increased cardiovascular fitness
- Weight loss
- Increased patient knowledge on his/her condition
