Arthritis is a quite painful condition impacting the body’s joints. Arthritis could vary in severity, from mild to severe, and impact a person at any age. Arthritis does not have a cure but it does not have to remain painful. It could be effectively managed. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis, however, three of the most common are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout says Dr Saed Varis a leading physiotherapist in Gurgaon and Delhi.
What Are the Symptoms of Arthritis?
The symptoms of arthritis vary from person to person. Even though there are some common symptoms that are seen in the majority of people with arthritis. These include:
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Swelling and redness
- Stiffness
- Reduced movement
There are other symptoms not linked with the joints that a few people may experience with arthritis like:
- Fatigue
- Skin issues
- Weight loss
- Malaise (feeling unwell)
How Good Is Physiotherapy For Arthritis?
Managing your symptoms and looking after your joints are essential aspects in the treatment of arthritis. Your physio will suggest a series of techniques to help ease your symptoms and decrease the effect that arthritis has on your life. Arthritis is a degenerative condition and physiotherapy for arthritis targets to improve symptoms and quality of life for patients. Mostly you will start to see a positive improvement posts a few sessions. The major goals of physio for arthritis include the following:
- Enhances your range of motion
- Reduce muscle and joint pain
- Decrease inflammation
- Boost muscles
- Improves muscle length
- Improves balance, proprioception (joint position sense) and mobility
- Enhances movement quality with advice and movement education
- Regain and maintain movement in your joints and soft tissues
- Decrease acute episodes of pain
What Are the Form of Physiotherapy Treatments?
Your treatment for arthritis will mainly depend on the joints affected, your aim, and any existing pain. Treatment might include are:
- A particular exercise program to correct muscle weakness around your affected joint
- A weight loss program if one is overweight
- Joint mobilisation techniques
- Dry needling and massage to lessen local muscle pain
- Advice on hydrotherapy (water-based exercise)
- Taping and bracing
There are a series of techniques to deal with arthritis symptoms. One of the major measures you can take is learning to pace yourself. This can make sure that you do not overstress your joints and aggravate pain or inflammation. Doing excessive at once can constantly provoke pain and decrease the effectiveness of treatment. Some of the measures one can take to pace themselves include:
- Determine how far you can walk without aggravating the symptoms
- Take a break while doing housework, do not do it all at once
- Avoid sitting for long hours
- Manage stress and anxiety
- Get proper sleep
Physiotherapy for arthritis also gives education on how to do certain exercises and daily tasks without pain; it concentrates on identifying problems and provides you strategies for self-care at home. You might have goals that you want to achieve, like standing up without pain. Your physiotherapist Dr. Varis can work with you to form a plan to achieve your goals. The key to a successful result is to be consistent with therapy and impactfully perform your exercises at home. Initial improvements could be achieved within the first few weeks. Longer-term improvement and decreasing of episodes or ‘flare-ups’ happen gradually as your body becomes stronger.
If you have further questions with regards to the physiotherapy for arthritis, you can contact the Impact Doctors Hub which is the leading physiotherapy clinic for arthritis in Delhi and Gurugram. This, blog has been written by India’s top and most successful physiotherapist for arthritis Dr. Saed Varis.
HOD, CK Birla Hospital (Physiotherapy), India’s Leading Physiotherapist
Dr Saed Varis is an eminent physiotherapist in India with vast experience in treating post-operative orthopaedic conditions like TKR, THR, ACLR, HTO, etc. He has vast experience treating conditions like PA shoulder (Frozen Shoulder), Bankart Lesion, Knee Pain, Bursitis, Tennis Elbow, Golfers Elbow, Wrist Pain, Ankle Pain, Ligament Injuries, and many other musculoskeletal conditions.
Gurgaon’s Top Physiotherapist Dr Saed Varis, says, because of ageing, or due to a serious injury, certain individuals might start suffering from joint issues that restrict them from performing daily activities. One of the most common among them is knee osteoarthritis, which is an outcome of old age. Other knee diseases caused due to inflammation and injury are rheumatoid arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis, respectively. Serious knee diseases make normal activities such as walking, sitting, climbing stairs, lifting heavy objects, or standing for a prolonged duration of time very difficult. If medicines cannot show significant improvement in the knees, then the patients are suggested to go for a total knee replacement surgery (TKR).