Physical Therapy for Arthritis Pain.

We know a lot of people suffer from Arthritis Pain and wanted to post an article that we thought would offer a few more solutions than just medicine. You can read the entire article at Everyday Health.com.

“Managing arthritis pain often means using a combination of treatments, including medications, exercise, hot and cold therapy, and any number of physical therapy options. While there’s no cure for arthritis, joint pain and other arthritis pain symptoms can often be managed successfully with a combination of therapies.”

Types of Physical Therapies Used to Treat Arthritis:

• Physical therapy. This is a commonly recommended treatment for arthritis pain because it really helps. Physical therapy works to strengthen joints that have been weakened by damage and inflammation. Physical therapy exercises can help reduce joint pain and stiffness, as well as improve range of motion, making you more mobile.

• Occupational therapy. This is another form of therapy that teaches patients how to manage arthritis pain, and work around it to achieve a higher level of mobility and comfort. An occupational therapist can show you how to best protect your joints from strain and damage that can lead to more joint pain. There are certain activities and positions, for instance, that are known to worsen arthritis pain, and in occupational therapy, you’ll learn what those are and how to avoid them while engaging in your usual everyday activities.

• TENS therapy. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or TENS, is a physical therapy method that uses small pulses of electricity to target areas of arthritis pain. Electrodes are placed on the skin covering the painful joint, and low levels of electricity are passed into the joint, temporarily relieving pain. The procedure can be performed by a physical therapist, other medical professionals, or even using TENS equipment at home.

• Diathermy. This form of heat therapy uses ultrasound, radio or microwaves, or electrical currents to heat the tissue inside painful joints. The heat kills damaged cells that cause joint pain, easing your arthritis symptoms.

• Massage. A massage therapist can help you to manage arthritis pain by massaging, kneading, and rubbing muscles and joints to boost blood circulation to the painful areas. (Poor blood circulation can contribute to joint pain.