How Can Physical Therapy Help My Arthritis?

 
 
sore hands

Treating my Painful Arthritis

Arthritis isn’t just physically painful, but can also be isolating and discouraging. In simple terms, arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints. It causes pain and stiffness that can worsen as you grow older. Arthritis is a reference to joint pain, or disease itself, and can cause permanent joint problems. It is most common in women, but studies show that some form of arthritis can be found in over 300,000 children. Arthritis, however, typically affects more people as they age.  

 
 
 

Identifying Arthritis Symptoms

Symptoms of arthritis can be quite intimidating. Common arthritis joint symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Symptoms may come and go over time. They can be mild, moderate or severe, and may stay the same for years, but can progress over time. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain, inability to do daily activities, and can even make it difficult to walk or climb stairs. The most important first step is to get an accurate diagnosis of what’s causing your joint pain.

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Signs and symptoms of arthritis may include:

  • Pain

  • Stiffness

  • Swelling

  • Redness

  • Decreased range of motion

 
 
 
man with wrist pain

When should you consult with physical therapy for your arthritis?

You should make an appointment with your PT if you’re having joint symptoms that last three days or more or several episodes of joint symptoms within a month. An evaluation for arthritis is aimed at relieving pain and decreasing the amount of inflammation, stiffness, and overall stress placed on the joint(s).

 
 
 

Relief for Arthritis with Physical Therapy in Hilton Head, Bluffton, and Okatie

Relief is just around the corner when you consult with a specialized therapist at Horizon Rehabilitation. While there’s no cure for arthritis, physical therapy may help you manage your symptoms related to mobility and activity depending on your diagnosis and individualized care plan. Physical therapy functions as the main component of combating joint pain and pain caused by arthritis through reducing dependence, reducing pain, and improving quality of life. At Horizon, our Lowcountry therapists understand the complexities of arthritis and here to help. During your initial appointment, you will undergo a thorough assessment in order to determine which methods will provide you with optimum pain relief.

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treating hand pain

Direct Access to Physical Therapy

We offer a variety of specialized physical and occupational therapy services in the Lowcountry where you can get help from our trusted and expert therapists. In most cases, no physician referral is needed. Call to schedule an evaluation with one of Horizon’s Occupational Therapists and Certified Hand Therapists.

 
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