How Can Physiotherapy Help Prevent Arthritis from Worsening?

Physiotherapy Techniques To Help Manage Arthritis

Here’s how our physiotherapists can help you manage arthritis and prevent it from worsening through arthritis physiotherapy in Spruce Grove.

Pain Management

1. Manual Therapy 

Manual therapy is a hands-on approach designed to relieve joint stiffness, enhance circulation, and decrease inflammation in the affected areas. This technique is beneficial for arthritis in the fingers. Our physiotherapists perform manual therapy by gently moving the affected joints to improve flexibility and mobility, which helps reduce discomfort. Our physiotherapists ensure the patient is comfortable and relaxed when performing joint mobilizations. They assess the affected joint’s range of motion and flexibility before positioning themselves to access the joint properly. Using gentle, controlled movements, the physiotherapist applies rhythmic oscillations or gliding motions to the joint within its range of motion. Throughout the process, they monitor the patient’s response, adjusting the force and direction of the movements as needed to ensure comfort and effectiveness. 

2. Hot and Cold Therapy 

Hot and cold therapy are simple yet effective methods for managing arthritis pain and reducing inflammation. Heat relaxes muscles, while cold therapy helps minimize swelling. Our physiotherapists recommend applying a warm compress to the affected joint for 15-20 minutes for hot therapy. Applying an ice pack for 10-15 minutes for cold therapy to the inflamed joint can significantly reduce swelling and discomfort. This technique provides immediate relief for many arthritis patients.

Therapeutic Exercises

1. Strengthening Exercises 

Strengthening the muscles on the affected joint is essential for reducing stress and improving stability. For example, if you have arthritis in the knee, our physiotherapists often recommend quadriceps strengthening exercises. One joint exercise is the straight leg raise, which helps to relieve pressure on the knee joint. To perform this exercise, lie on your back with one leg. Slowly lift the straight leg about 12 inches off the ground, hold for a few seconds, and lower it back down. This should be repeated 10-15 repetitions, 2-3 times daily. Similarly, for arthritis in the hip, we focus on exercises like hip bridges to strengthen the gluteal and core muscles, which stabilize the hip joint. It involves lying on your back with the knees bent to tighten your core and glutes, lifting your hips towards the ceiling, holding for a few seconds, and lowering slowly.

2. Range of Motion Exercises 

Maintaining joint mobility is crucial for preventing stiffness, especially in cases of degenerative osteoarthritis. Our physiotherapists recommend a range of motion exercises that gently stretch and move the joints to keep them flexible. For arthritis in joints such as the knees, hips, or shoulders, exercises like knee bends are efficient. To perform knee bends, sit on a chair with your feet flat on the floor and slowly slide one foot backward while keeping it on the ground, bending the knee as far as comfortable, then returning to the starting position. Repeat this ten times, 2-3 times daily. For hip arthritis, we recommend exercises like hip circles, where you stand, lift one leg, and make small circular motions with your knee, performing ten circles in each direction for both legs.

Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is a treatment option for managing arthritis, providing a non-invasive approach to alleviating pain and improving joint function. This therapy uses high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. When applied to arthritic joints, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, shockwave therapy helps reduce inflammation, enhance blood circulation, and promote collagen production. Breaking down scar tissue and calcifications around the joints can significantly decrease pain and improve mobility. The procedure typically involves applying a handheld device to the affected area, with each session lasting about 5 to 15 minutes. Patients may experience some discomfort during the treatment, but it generally requires minimal downtime. With its ability to target specific areas and encourage tissue repair, shockwave therapy offers a solution for people with arthritis and enhances their quality of life.

Posture Correction 

Maintaining posture is crucial for managing arthritis by reducing stress on affected joints like the hips, knees, and spine. Our physiotherapists use specific exercises to help improve posture and support joint health. For instance, the Standing Tall with Shoulder Blade Squeeze exercise involves standing with feet hip-width apart and shoulders back, engaging the core, and squeezing the shoulder blades together for 5-10 seconds. This exercise helps to strengthen the upper back muscles, supporting the spine. Another effective exercise is the Wall Angels, where you stand with your back against a wall, press your lower back, upper back, and head against the wall, and then slide down in a controlled motion. This exercise enhances shoulder mobility and strengthens the upper back muscles. Then, try incorporating these exercises into your routine to improve your posture, reduce joint stress, and manage arthritis more effectively.

Take Control of Your Arthritis with Physiotherapy

At Sunrise Physiotherapy, we’re committed to helping you manage your arthritis and live a whole, active life. Arthritis doesn’t have to hold you back. With the proper arthritis physiotherapy in the Spruce Grove approach, you can regain control over your body and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle despite arthritis. If you’re struggling with arthritis and looking for relief, don’t wait. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how our proven techniques can help you stay mobile and pain-free!