If you have arthritis, you are well aware of the difficulties it can cause in everyday activities such as traveling and working. What you may not realize is that physical therapy can help you find relief from arthritis pain, and you can do so without leaving your home thanks to our in-home services.
While there is no cure for arthritis, you can delay its onset and feel less pain overall if you use the exercises and therapies prescribed by your in-home physical therapist.
Physical therapy is a safer and more effective option for arthritis pain management. Call our office today to schedule a physical therapy appointment in the comfort of your own home. The therapists at Optimal Home Rehab are ready to support you!
Common forms of arthritis
The term “arthritis” refers to a group of painful joint disorders. In some people, it manifests as painful gout in a toe joint, while in others, it manifests as a bacterial joint infection. The vast majority of arthritis patients, however, suffer from one of two painful conditions:
- Osteoarthritis – The most common type of arthritis, it is caused by a lifetime of joint motion combined with any changes that occur as people age. A healthy joint has a layer of cartilage that serves as a shock absorber, anti-friction factor, and lubricant to keep the bone ends moving smoothly. The output of lubricating fluid, on the other hand, will dry up over time, causing the cartilage to become thinner and more aged until it eventually breaks down completely. This causes discomfort, swelling, and inflammation in the joint, which normally gets worse as you try to move or put weight on it.
- Rheumatoid arthritis – An auto-immune disease or dysfunction causes this type of arthritis. The same defense mechanisms that normally defend against disease germs decide to turn on your joints, treating them as the enemy and attacking them. This causes painful inflammation that may come and go, causing joint swelling and deformity.
4 benefits of in-home PT for arthritis
Because arthritis attacks the body’s joints, the goal of physical therapy will be to restore use of those joints and improve your ability to move around and engage in daily activities.
This can be accomplished by combining exercise to strengthen the support systems around the joints with instructions on how to travel and participate in activities without exacerbating the symptoms. Your physical therapist will recommend a treatment plan based on the severity of your arthritis and the areas of your body that are affected.
Your therapist will teach you physical exercises to improve your mobility, range of motion, flexibility, and coordination. Your strategy could include any of the following:
- Posture: Your therapist will teach you various body mechanic techniques that will improve joint function and reduce pain. You will also be taught ways to use your strongest muscles and joints to relieve pressure on arthritic joints.
- Environmental modifications: Your physical therapist can make specific recommendations for additional therapeutic aids based on your type of arthritis. These can include ergonomic furniture or cushioned mats in areas of your home or at work where you tend to stand on your feet for long periods of time.
- Treatments: Modern physical therapy has a broad range of treatment options available to assist with arthritis pain. Hot and cold therapy can relieve the pain and stiffness in joints; braces or splints can help to stabilize and support arthritic joints; shoe inserts can relieve arthritis pain in the lower extremities; and so on.
- Education: Sometimes arthritis in the hip or knee will require the use of assistive mobility devices, such as a cane or walker. Your physical therapist will teach you the proper way to use these devices.
What can you expect from in-home physical therapy?
Physical therapy sessions are unlikely to be required on a weekly basis. Monitoring your condition and progress once every few weeks should suffice. Your therapist can schedule visits around your schedule.
Physical therapy appointments are frequently brief. Your therapist will concentrate on detecting problems with your physical function caused by arthritis and teaching you methods to relieve pain at home.
The only way to truly obtain arthritis pain relief is to maintain long-term compliance with what your therapist teaches you. It is critical that you follow your physical therapist’s instructions in order to continue making progress!
Consider the various physical aspirations you might have in order to assist your physical therapist in providing you with the best guidance possible.
You might want to be able to do your regular job without straining your hips or knees, reach items high up on a kitchen shelf without pain, or simply get in and out of your car without pain, for example. By communicating your desires to your therapist, you will ensure that your services are tailored to your individual needs.
Need help managing your arthritis? Contact Optimal Home Rehab today!
Are you tired of living with arthritis? Is it difficult for you to leave the house for treatment because of your condition? Call our office to schedule your first at-home appointment with a physical therapist if you are ready for relief from arthritis pain.
