The term arthritis is an umbrella term for conditions affecting the joints. Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis, for example are types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting around 24% of the adult population. It is characterized by a thinning or wearing down of the protective cartilage that lines the ends of the bones in a joint. Cartilage has two main jobs:

1- Provide a smooth, low friction surface for the joints to articulate and move

2- Transmit forces into the underlying bone

Osteoarthritis is considered a “wear and tear” condition as it is thought to be the result of repetitive movements or loads through a joint. Osteoarthritis is most common in weight bearing joints like the hips, knees and spine but can be present in any joint like the hands or shoulders. It typically develops slowly and may worsen over time. The wearing, cracking or fissuring of cartilage that can occur in osteoarthritis can lead to the symptoms commonly associated with this condition:

• Joint pain during or after movement
• Joint stiffness that worsens after a period of inactivity
• Swelling or tenderness around a joint
• Decreased flexibility or range of motion in a joint
• Grating sensation or popping/cracking noise when moving a joint (though this can happen in healthy joints as well).

WHO IS AT RISK FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS?

Osteoarthritis affects over 32 million Americans. While it is not always possible to predict who will develop osteoarthritis, some risk factors have been identified that may increase the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis in one or more joints:

• Age–the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis increases with age
• Gender–women are more likely that men to have osteoarthritis
• Joint injury or overuse can lead to osteoarthritis over time
• Genetics–those whose family members have osteoarthritis are more likely to develop it themselves

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

PHYSICAL THERAPY TO ADDRESS OSTEOARTHRITIS

While physical therapy cannot reverse the effects of osteoarthritis on joint tissues, research shows that physical therapy is an effective tool to reduce pain and improve function. When physical activity worsens pain, it is common for persons with osteoarthritis to begin self-limiting activity. Though it may seem counterintuitive, less motion is often not the answer to arthritis pain. This is where a physical therapist can help. Physical therapy to treat osteoarthritis often includes the following goals:

Pain Reduction: Modalities such as heat, ice or electrical stimulation and gentle hands-on techniques such as passive range of motion, soft tissue or joint mobilization, myofascial release techniques, or taping to improve the mobility and health of the joint and soft tissues can be used to reduce pain.

Restore Joint Motion: If mobility is restricted in the connective tissue structures around the joint itself, joint mobilization techniques may be utilized to improve that motion. Active range of motion might be prescribed initially to reintroduce motion to the joint and later on stretching may be prescribed to help lengthen chronically shortened tissues.

Address Biomechanical Impairments: While the surfaces of the joint may no longer be pristine, how the joint moves and how much stress is applied across an affected joint can play a large role in how much pain you experience and how much you have to limit your activities. Proper strength and flexibility in the muscles surrounding the joint can optimize its movement and may reduce some of the rubbing that occurs between uneven joint surfaces.

Return to Activities

The ultimate goal of a physical therapy program for osteoarthritis is to help you get back to the activities you love and need to do throughout your life. At Evolve, your PT will help you get back to activities in the safest, most effective and quickest way possible. They will always strive to help get you back to these activities but in cases where that is not possible without some modification, your PT is there to help advise you on adaptations you can make to help control your symptoms.

If you are struggling with pain and symptoms related to osteoarthritis, call us today to learn more about our services and schedule an evaluation