How Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Arthritis Symptoms and Mobility

Consider physical therapy if you’re one of the millions of Americans with arthritis. This safe, effective treatment option is drug-free and can help ease pain and restore your mobility. Read on to learn more.

More than 58 million Americans have arthritis, a chronic degenerative disease that damages the joints, causing pain, inflammation, and mobility issues. While prescription medication can help ease some arthritis symptoms, it often presents side effects and isn’t always enough to ensure lasting relief. Consequently, many people are including physical therapy (PT) in their treatment approach.

At Performance Therapy Institute, with offices in Brentwood, Nashville, and Nolensville, Tennessee, our experienced team regularly prescribes physical therapy to manage arthritis pain. Here, we highlight several of its benefits for arthritis relief.

3 ways physical therapy can help with arthritis

Physical therapy is a noninvasive treatment that uses stretches, strengthening exercises, and manual therapy to ease pain, increase circulation, and promote mobility. People with arthritis can benefit from these modalities in several ways:

1. Helps build muscle

Arthritis causes your joints to wear down and deteriorate, regardless of type. This process weakens them, making routine movements like climbing stairs or getting in and out of bed challenging.

Physical therapy uses targeted exercises that increase muscle tone and strength. Because strong muscles act as natural braces, this makes it easier to move comfortably. Strong muscles also improve balance, so you’re less likely to slip and fall.

2. Improves joint mobility and flexibility

Joint stiffness is one of the most common side effects of arthritis. In fact, more than 50% of arthritis patients report physical limitations because of it. Although stiffness is often worse in the morning and improves throughout the day, any type of limited joint flexibility can affect your quality of life.

Physical therapy addresses this stiffness by teaching you how to slowly and methodically move your joints through their full range of motion. For example, if you have arthritis in your shoulders, we may recommend shoulder circles to ease pain and improve mobility.

Physical therapy also uses hands-on modalities, like massage, to improve blood flow and help the surrounding muscles relax. This reduces inflammation, making it easier to move your joints comfortably.

3. Improves physical function

Arthritis pain can make daily activities such as brushing your teeth and combing your hair difficult. Our physical therapists understand, which is why they often focus on making these and other movements easier. Specifically, we teach you how to move your body safely.

Practicing good posture and making methodical movements can reduce stress on your joints and help prevent future injuries. We may also suggest assistive devices, like a cane, to support your mobility. Similarly, we can recommend home and office modifications that support proper ergonomics, making it easier to complete your daily routine.

You don’t have to suffer from arthritis pain!