How Physiotherapy Can Help Relieve Pain Caused by Arthritis

Arthritis is a joint disorder that affects 1 in 5 adults in Canada. It affects a person’s joints, which are connecting points between bones. The pain from arthritis can be both chronic and acute. Arthritis causes inflammation to the joints, and the person experiences pain, discomfort, swelling, and stiffness. Physiotherapy is one of the most common treatments for people with arthritis. Healthcare professionals redirect patients suffering from arthritis towards physiotherapists who provide them consultation and then the resulting treatment. These experts can properly assess the patient’s movement and help them protect their joints.

What is Arthritis?

When it comes to arthritis, the person affected also experiences loss in movement as the joints can become too inflamed and movement is restricted. More than 4.6 million Canadians from the age of 15 and above are affected by this problem. However, it is more common in women. Arthritis can also lead to disability. Pain, swelling, or tenderness along with stiffness in joints and limited mobility are some symptoms of arthritis. The severity of these symptoms depends, and some symptoms can get worse over time while some come and go. If the pain becomes chronic, the person can find themselves unable to perform daily tasks and activities like walking. Arthritis can also permanently damage the joints. Some damage is visible on X-Rays only, whereas some damage is visible in real life, like knobby joints. Arthritis can also damage your vital organs like the heart, skin, lungs, eyes, or kidneys.

Physiotherapy for Arthritis

Physiotherapy includes physical exercises and activity. This is essential for patients suffering from arthritis as it plays a role in keeping their physical and mental health in check. It also manages arthritis through regular physical activity. It’s an effective and non-invasive method to manage and keep the pain in control so you don’t have to rely on pain medication.

How Can Physiotherapy Help?

Not only does physiotherapy help you relieve pain, but it also helps you manage it and the other effects of arthritis. Arthritis can cause pain in many parts of the body, not just the part affected. Medications work well with physiotherapy, but there are various treatments like ice packs and massages that help soothe the swollen joints. A physiotherapist helps guide the patients through the journey and helps them find the right balance between resting and physical activity.  

Physiotherapy Treatments

There is a variety of physiotherapy treatments available that can help people suffering from arthritis and relieve their pain. Let’s take a look at some of the most common treatments used in physiotherapy and understand how they help with arthritis.

Massages

Physical massages are a great way of physical therapy, and these massages are used in physiotherapy. Massages are carried out by massage therapists in a physiotherapy clinic and these massages are incredibly soothing and helpful. Many therapists also tell patients to do some massages on their own at home to help relieve pain.

Acupuncture

This is a treatment where the brain is stimulated through physiotherapy, and then the brain releases endorphins. Physiotherapists are trained to carry out the procedure of acupuncture, and they can perform this on their patients.

Ice or Heat Packs

When a person has arthritis, their joints are swollen, and there is inflammation. To soothe these joints, ice backs can be used. A cloth soaked in cold water can also be used but make sure you get the right temperature to avoid the risk of injuring yourself. Heat packs can also be used as they can soothe the pain by increasing blood circulation. You can also create your own heat pack using a cloth and warm water.

Exercise

Physical exercise is a must for reducing arthritis pain. It’s helpful even though it doesn’t seem like an obvious treatment route for arthritis. Slow and gentle exercise is the way to start, and then you increase your movements along the way as you start to exercise often. Regular exercise allows the muscles and joints to regain their mobility and strength, and it also helps improve the fitness level in the body. Living with arthritis is painful, but these physiotherapy treatments are available to help make a patient’s life easier. Your physiotherapist can guide you better on which treatment they think is the best for you. For a rich and pain-free lifestyle, physiotherapy is the way to go.

Diagnosing Arthritis and Getting Treatment

While arthritis can show up in x-rays, other fluid tests like blood tests and urine tests can also be recommended by your doctor to review your medical conditions. Physiotherapists also examine the joints properly to look for signs of deformity or inflammation. If you want to get an early diagnosis, that will help you prevent long-lasting damage or disability. We have a group of trained physiotherapists in Canada at our women-led clinic who take their time to understand a patient’s medical history and everything about their arthritis pain. You can visit our Edmonton clinic for physiotherapy. Our trained physiotherapists are available for any treatment, including massage therapy, vestibular therapy, shockwave therapy, acupuncture, and more. You can also book a physiotherapist appointment to know more about your arthritis and explore treatment options before selecting your mode of recovery. Schedule a meeting with a physical therapist in Stony Plain or Edmonton today at our Physiotherapy clinic. You can also book a physiotherapy session online.