What is Gout?

Gout is a common disorder that is a complex form of arthritis. Gout is often described as a very fast and painful onset of extreme swelling, tenderness, and pain of the joints frequently starting for most people on the joint of their big toe.

What Causes Gout?

• Age
• Diet
• Previous Injury- existing damage to joints and loss of function from use.
• Surgery
• Genetics
• Medications
• Degenerative conditions- RA, Lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, gout

Why Is Gout So Painful?

Common Gout Hotspots-

• Big toe
• Hands
• Wrists
• Knees
• Ankles
• Hips
• Lower back
• Shoulders
• Elbows
• Neck

How Physical Therapy for Gout Works?

Adjusting Movement: Finding the root of the problem will help our physical therapists to create a personalized treatment plan that will help with correcting the main cause(s) of Gout pain. In most cases, there are specific movements that cause a patient pain and that offers our physical therapists valuable insight on where and how to start the Gout physical therapy treatment plan.

Pain Management: People living with Gout typically have to tolerate related aches and pains everyday, leading to a loss in quality of life. Our physical therapists can help alleviate the pain by using different manual therapy techniques and other modalities, along with specialized stretches, massages, and exercises to help reduce pain associated with Gout.

Restoring Alignment, Muscle Strength, and Symmetry: With the ever-changing dynamics of the human body, you may find overtime that some muscles may have shifted. Exercises used with physical therapy for Gout treatmen can help you to restore muscle symmetry, as well as, enhancing the alignment of your joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Stretching & Breathing Exercises: With all types of physical therapy focusing, on breathing is very important. By utilizing different breathing exercises and using the prescribed stretching techniques on a regular basis, you will be able to slow the progression of Gout symptoms, while easing some of the associated pain from Gout, increase range of joint motion, while strengthening supporting muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Posture Awareness: When someone has Gout, there are certain postures that may make their condition worse or even cause excruciating pain. Therefore, it is important to be aware of your body’s entire posture. Once you are aware of how different postures may affect you, it will be easier to begin to correct the issue at the potential source.

Joint Mobilization: Depending on where the Gout are located, your physical therapist may recommend methods to alleviate some of the daily stress put on the affected joints. Some of these options could include correcting posture, finding different ways to move, or utilizing braces or orthotics.

How can physical therapy stretches and exercises help my Gout?

• Helps to stabilize joints, surrounding muscles, and tendons
• Promote better joint alignment
• Allows for mobilization of any stiff muscles and tendons
• Improvement of posture
• Enhances neuromuscular control
• Assists in relieving pain
• Increasing muscle strength
• Improved cardiac function

If you decide to work with a physical therapist to help with your Gout, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20 different physical therapy sessions that will each last approximately 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized gout physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your gout sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

Can You Benefit from Physical Therapy for Gout

This method of treatment for gout can be beneficial for children as well as adults. Anyone who is suffering from the pain and irritation that is often associated with scoliosis may benefit from gout exercises.

Other treatment for Gout-

Physical therapy is an excellent nonsurgical treatment for Gout. However, depending on the severity of your case, bracing or surgery may be recommended. With bracing, you will wear a brace to stop the affected area from moving any further than it should be. If you have a very severe case of gout then your doctor may recommend medication, physical therapy, and other types of treatments.

Should I consider Physical Therapy for Managing My Gout?

Chronic Pain: If your child has chronic pain they may benefit from physical therapy exercises and manual therapy.

With Gout physical therapy the main goal is to alleviate Gout symptoms and hopefully slow any further progression of a Gout attack. If you or someone you care about is suffering from Gout pain, then physical therapy for gout may be a good choice. To learn more about this form of treatment for Gout, or to schedule a consultation, feel free to reach out to my team and I today.