Arthritis Specialist

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a collection of diseases that cause incurable joint pain. Of the many different forms arthritis takes, osteoarthritis is the most common by far.

Osteoarthritis arises when the articular cartilage covering the bones in your joints wears away after years of activity. It tends to affect people in their middle and later years, but you can develop it earlier if you suffer a joint injury when you're young.

The second most widespread form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, which typically develops in younger people. It's an autoimmune disorder, meaning your body's immune system attacks cells in your joint linings and causes damage to the joints.

Other prevalent types of arthritis include psoriatic arthritis, which occurs alongside the skin disease psoriasis, septic arthritis from infection, and gout, which commonly affects the feet.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

The symptom all forms of arthritis share is joint pain. This tends to be a deep, constant aching that sometimes flares up for hours or days at a time and becomes unbearably intense.

Along with the pain, your joints are likely to be increasingly stiff and weak, and in the latter stages of the disease, the affected joints may become misshapen. Redness, heat, and swelling in the joints are also common symptoms.

Without treatment, arthritis can seriously limit your mobility and quality of life. Fortunately, the Precision Rehab Occupational Physical & Hand Therapy team offers many beneficial therapies to help you keep moving and minimize the pain.

What treatments can help with arthritis?

Pain medication is often a mainstay in arthritis treatment, but while it can help, there are limits to its usefulness.

Physical therapy helps to keep your joints mobile, preventing them from seizing up and causing long-term disability. Occupational therapy complements physical therapy, enabling you to work and complete everyday tasks without aggravating your symptoms.

The Precision Rehab Occupational Physical & Hand Therapy team may treat arthritis patients with:

• Stretching and strengthening
• Moist heat
• Cold therapy
• Ultrasound
• Iontophoresis
• Cold laser
• Paraffin treatment
• Electrical stimulation
• Fluidotherapy
• Whirlpool treatment
• Diathermy

You might wonder whether using your painful joints is a good idea, but inactivity accelerates joint deterioration, so keeping them moving is vital when you have arthritis. 

The experts at Precision Rehab Occupational Physical & Hand Therapy also help you with coordination and balance and demonstrate how to complete routine tasks that are causing you difficulties. You may benefit from assistive devices, too, which your therapist can show you how to use.

Whatever type of arthritis you have, the Precision Rehab Occupational Physical & Hand Therapy experts can significantly improve your quality of life. Call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.