May is National Arthritis Awareness Month
May is recognized each year as National Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis is a disease that impacts more than 50 million Americans, making it the number one cause of disability in the country. That means 1 in every 5 adults, 300,000 children and countless families are affected by arthritis.
What is 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.
Signs and symptoms of arthritis may include:
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Pain
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Stiffness
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Swelling
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Redness
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Decreased range of motion
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).
Help Arthritis with Physical Therapy
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.
Help Arthritis with Physical Therapy
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.