Sports Physiotherapy for Arthritis

Arthritis is not a single disease; it is an inflammation of one or more joints, which causes pain and stiffness that can worsen with age. There are many types of arthritis and each has different causes. It includes wear and tear, infections, and other underlying diseases. Medication, surgery, or physiotherapy for arthritis help to reduce the symptoms and improve your life.

What are the causes of arthritis?

• Damaged joints due to overuse
• Aging
• Injuries
• Obesity
• Autoimmune disorders
• Hereditary
• Muscle weakness

The Goal of Physiotherapy for Arthritis

Physiotherapy for arthritis mainly focuses on:

• Enhancing the flexibility and restoring the use of affected joints
• Increasing strength to support the joints
• Maintaining fitness
• Restoring the ability to perform daily activities

Types of Physiotherapies Used to Cure Arthritis

There is no cure for symptoms of arthritis, but can be managed with the following combination of therapies.

1. Physiotherapy:

   Physiotherapy is a highly recommended treatment as it is proven to be very helpful for arthritis. Joints get weakened by damage or inflammation. Physical therapy helps in strengthening these inflamed joints. Exercises suggested by physiotherapists will help to reduce joint pain and stiffness, as well as improve range of motion, improving your mobility.

2. Occupational therapy:

   This therapy helps patients to manage their arthritis pain, work around it to enhance the level of mobility and comfort. An Occupational therapist guide you to protect your joints from strain and damage to avoid more joint pain issues.

3. TENS therapy:

   TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is a physical therapy technique that uses small pulses of electricity to target areas of arthritis pain. Electrodes are placed on the skin covering the painful joint. Then a very low level of electricity is passed into joints to temporarily relieve the pain.

4. Diathermy:

   This method of heat therapy uses ultrasound, radio or microwaves, or electrical currents to heat the tissue inside painful joints. The heat helps in killing damaged cells that cause pain in joints which results in easing your arthritis pain.

5. Massage:

   Massage therapy is another mostly recommended treatment for arthritis symptoms by rubbing muscles and joints, kneading, massaging. This will enhance the blood flow and improve the circulation of blood to the painful areas.

No individual can get rid of arthritis pain, they can only reduce the symptoms to help you improve. It will maintain the use and enhance the mobility of your joints, reduce pain and stiffness. One might have to continue the treatments in order to keep their arthritis pain under control.

If you’re experiencing regular pain in joints, then it is the right time to consult your physiotherapists. If you’re in Vancouver, Surrey, or in the Fleetwood location of British Columbia, MJPhysio has the best treatment for Arthritis.