Managing Arthritis with Physical Therapy

Arthritis is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide, causing joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation. It can severely impact a person’s quality of life, limiting mobility and daily function. While medications and surgical options are often part of the treatment plan, physical therapy (PT) plays a vital role in managing arthritis and improving overall joint function. In this blog post, we’ll explore how physical therapy can help manage arthritis, providing individuals with the tools to live better, pain-free lives.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joints, and there are many types, with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) being the most common. OA is a degenerative joint disease that typically affects older adults, while RA is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in multiple joints, often leading to joint damage over time. Both conditions result in pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion.

Physical therapy can be a powerful part of an arthritis management plan, helping to relieve symptoms and improve joint mobility.

The Role of Physical Therapy in Arthritis Management

Physical therapy is designed to help individuals recover from injury, manage chronic conditions, and improve overall movement for improved quality of life. For patients with arthritis, PT focuses on reducing pain, improving joint function, and enhancing the quality of life by promoting strength, flexibility, and endurance.

Here’s how physical therapy can help with arthritis:

1. Pain Reduction

One of the primary goals of physical therapy for arthritis is to reduce pain. Therapists use various techniques, such as heat and cold therapy, manual therapy, and gentle range of motion to reduce inflammation and provide relief from joint pain. These methods can help ease acute pain during flare-ups and reduce the need for medication.

2. Improving Range of Motion and Flexibility

Arthritis can cause the surrounding muscles and ligaments to tighten, limiting the range of motion in the affected joints. Through a series of gentle stretches and mobility exercises, a physical therapist can help increase flexibility and maintain the joint's natural range of motion by providing lubrication to the joint. This is particularly helpful for maintaining independence in daily activities like walking, dressing, and driving.

3. Strengthening Muscles Around the Joint

Muscle weakness is common in individuals with arthritis, as the pain often leads to reduced activity levels or compensations. Physical therapy helps target specific muscle groups around the affected joints to provide stability and support. Stronger muscles can help absorb some of the stress placed on the joints, reducing pain and inflammation. For example, strengthening the quadriceps muscles in the legs can help relieve pressure on the knees in individuals with knee arthritis.

4. Enhancing Posture and Body Mechanics

Arthritis can alter the way a person moves or walks, leading to poor posture and body mechanics. This can place additional strain on other joints and muscles, causing pain elsewhere in the body. A physical therapist can help identify any abnormal patterns in movement and provide corrective strategies. Improving posture and body mechanics helps reduce unnecessary wear and tear on the joints, enhancing overall movement efficiency.

5. Education on Joint Protection Techniques

Physical therapists educate individuals on joint protection strategies to minimize stress on the affected joints during daily activities. This might include advice on using assistive devices like canes or braces, learning how to sit and stand properly, and pacing oneself during activities to prevent overexertion. By using proper techniques, individuals can help reduce stress to their arthritic joints and thereby reduce inflammation and pain. 

6. Exercise to Maintain Joint Health

Regular exercise is crucial for arthritis management, but it needs to be done correctly to avoid injury. Physical therapists provide personalized exercise programs that cater to each person’s specific needs and limitations. Low-impact exercises are often recommended for arthritis patients to improve cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and joint mobility while minimizing stress on the joints.

Benefits of Physical Therapy for Arthritis

• Improved Mobility and Function: PT helps people maintain or restore their ability to perform everyday tasks like walking, climbing stairs, or lifting objects.
• Reduced Need for Medications: Regular physical therapy can reduce reliance on painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs, which may have side effects or become less effective over time.
• Better Quality of Life: With improved strength, flexibility, and mobility, individuals with arthritis can engage in more activities, feel less pain, and experience an overall better quality of life.
• Improve Surgical Recovery: Patients who attend PT prior to surgery to improve their strength and range of motion tend to have better recoveries post-operatively. Due to this, many surgeons will send patients to pre-operative physical therapy even when surgery is already scheduled in the future. 

What to Expect During Physical Therapy for Arthritis

During your first visit, your physical therapist will conduct a thorough assessment to evaluate your condition. This may include a review of your medical history, an examination of your joints and muscles, and an assessment of your posture and movement patterns.

Based on this assessment, the therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan that may include:

• Stretching exercises to increase flexibility
• Strengthening exercises for the muscles surrounding the affected joints
• Manual therapy techniques to alleviate pain and improve joint movement
• Education on posture, body mechanics, and joint protection
• Recommendations for assistive devices, such as braces, splints, or canes, if necessary

Sessions are typically scheduled once or twice a week, depending on your needs. As progress is made, the therapist will adjust your exercises and goals to keep improving your strength and mobility.

Conclusion

While there is no cure for arthritis, physical therapy provides a comprehensive approach to managing the symptoms and improving quality of life. With the right exercises, education, and support, individuals with arthritis can regain better control of their bodies, reduce pain, and improve joint function. Even if you have surgery scheduled to address your arthritis you can talk to your doctor about pre-operative physical therapy to set yourself up for the easiest/fastest recovery possible after surgery. 

If you are living with arthritis, consider reaching out to a physical therapist to create a plan tailored to your needs and begin your journey toward better mobility and well-being. By integrating physical therapy into your treatment plan, you can stay active, reduce pain, and enjoy life to the fullest despite the challenges of arthritis.

Resources:

• Graenicher, P., Mulder, L., Lenssen, T., Scherr, J., Swanenburg, J., & De Bie, R. (2022). Prehabilitation improves knee functioning before and within the first year after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review with meta-analysis. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 52(11), 709-725.
• Fransen, M., McConnell, S., Harmer, A. R., Van der Esch, M., Simic, M., & Bennell, K. L. (2015). Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee: a Cochrane systematic review. British journal of sports medicine, 49(24), 1554-1557.
• Thoma, L. M., Li, L. C., White, D. K., & Oatis, C. (2023). Physical therapists play a key role in the comprehensive management of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Care & Research.
• de Rooij, M., van der Leeden, M., Cheung, J., van der Esch, M., Häkkinen, A., Haverkamp, D., ... & Dekker, J. (2017). Efficacy of tailored exercise therapy on physical functioning in patients with knee osteoarthritis and comorbidity: a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis care & research, 69(6), 807-816.
• Fransen, M., McConnell, S., Hernandez‐Molina, G., & Reichenbach, S. (2014). Exercise for osteoarthritis of the hip. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4).
• Moseng, T., Vlieland, T. P. V., Battista, S., Beckwée, D., Boyadzhieva, V., Conaghan, P. G., ... & Østerås, N. (2024). EULAR recommendations for the non-pharmacological core management of hip and knee osteoarthritis: 2023 update. Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 83(6), 730-740.

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Laura Flores PT, DPT, OCS

Orthopedic Clinical Specialist

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