Have you recently learned that your persistent joint pain is the result of arthritis? For many, this can be a challenging discovery, as the most common forms of arthritis have no known cures. But rest assured that you do not have to spend your life living with debilitating joint pain — physical therapy can help!
Arthritis refers to several conditions that cause joint inflammation, leading to its two primary symptoms: pain and mobility restriction. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, can cause pain during movement. It’s no surprise, then, that many people with arthritis wind up avoiding physical activity.
In reality, regular physical activity is one of the best ways to manage arthritis pain. Physical activity can also help delay the progression of arthritis — and help you avoid surgery.
As movement experts, the team at Blue Sky Physical Therapy is well-equipped to help you manage your arthritis pain. The physical therapy approach to arthritis management focuses on drug-free pain relief and regular movement. Best of all, it allows you to take a proactive role in your treatment.
Let’s look at what happens when you exercise regularly with arthritis — and what happens when you don’t. And if you’d like to learn more, call us to schedule an appointment today!
Got Arthritis? What To Expect if You Skip Regular Exercise
- Your muscles will weaken: One of the big benefits of exercise is that it builds muscle mass. If you don’t exercise regularly, your muscle mass will decrease — especially if you’re older, as muscle mass naturally decreases as we age.
What does this mean if you have arthritis? Without strong muscles, your impacted joints don’t get the strength and stability they need to function, which puts even more stress on them — and means more pain in the long run. - Your joints will get stiffer: Our bodies are made to move, and when we don’t move them frequently enough, our joints don’t get the lubrication they need to run properly. This is as true for people with arthritis as it is for anyone else. Plus, since arthritis causes joint stiffness, not moving will only worsen your symptoms.
- You increase your risk of injury: When you don’t exercise, you start to lose everyday abilities like balance, stability, and coordination. You can also develop muscular imbalances, improper biomechanics, or postural issues, all of which increase your odds of suffering an injury.
What Happens When You Do Exercise with Arthritis
- You’ll experience less pain: While it’s true that activity can initially worsen arthritis pain, regular exercise will decrease your pain symptoms over time.
- You’ll experience fewer mobility restrictions: Just as regular exercise can decrease pain, it will also help improve your range of motion — meaning you can move more easily.
- The progression of your arthritis may slow: Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis — the two most common forms of arthritis — will gradually worsen over time and may eventually require you to undergo surgery. Exercising won’t cure arthritis, but it will slow the damage to your joints.
- You may feel more empowered: Living with a chronic condition is hard. Regular exercise can help you feel like you’re taking an active role in managing your condition and reducing your pain.
- You’ll experience other physical and mental benefits: Exercise offers many benefits beyond pain management. It can improve mood and quality of sleep, protect you from heart disease and diabetes, and help you stay active and independent well into old age.
Ready to Start Exercising? Blue Sky Physical Therapy Can Help!
While the benefits of regular exercise for arthritis are undeniable, getting started can be challenging. Which movements are safe for you to perform? Which will provide you with the most benefits? What should you do if even simple movement is too painful?
This is where our physical therapists shine! We’ll create a customized arthritis treatment plan that speaks to your needs and abilities. Here’s a taste of all that we can offer:
- Acute pain management using manual techniques and pain relieving modalities
- Personalized exercise programs with targeted, progressive exercises that build strength and improve mobility
- Specialized exercise programs to address balance and other functional challenges
- Guidance on general exercise programs to keep you moving outside our clinic
Don’t let arthritis keep you from living an active, healthy lifestyle. Call us today to find out more about our arthritis treatment programs!
Exercise of the Month
Wrist Extensor Stretch
Sit up straight in a chair and raise one arm out straight in front of you with your palm facing the ground. Bring your other hand over top of your palm and lightly press your hand down so you bend at the wrist. Continue pressing until you feel tension in your forearm behind your wrist.
Your Progress Matters To Us!
Return to Blue Sky Physical Therapy and Let’s Continue Your Journey to Wellness Together. Schedule Your Appointment Now!
Tai Chi at Blue Sky PT
We are excited to announce that we will now offer Tai Chi classes on Fridays! Class times will be Thursdays at 3:30pm and Fridays at 1:00pm.
Discover Healthy Plate Pleasures
Mediterranean Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 2 tbsp snipped fresh mint
- 2 tbsp snipped fresh basil
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 5 cups shredded romaine lettuce
- 2 cups cut-up cooked chicken breast
- 2 plum tomatoes, cut into wedges
- 1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans
- 2 tbsp pitted Kalamata olives
- 2 tbsp crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
- 6 Whole kalamata olives
Directions
In a screw-top jar, combine lemon juice, mint, basil, olive oil, honey, and black pepper to make dressing. Cover and shake well. Place lettuce on a large platter. Top with chicken, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, the quartered olives (if using), and feta cheese. Drizzle with dressing. If desired, garnish individual servings with whole olives.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“Erica is an amazing and highly skilled pelvic floor physical therapist. I have been working with her to improve my pelvic floor and core strength and have made tremendous improvements. My pain is gone since coming to her, and my visits now involve building upon the progress we have made with the treatment plan she provided. She provides a holistic approach to caring for and educating her patients. The exercises and tools she incorporates have been immensely helpful. I’m blessed to have her as my physical therapist, she is truly gifted! Erica is extremely knowledgeable, I highly recommend her for pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapy care.“
– Janae J.
