Although it depends on a person’s specific condition, physiotherapy is an effective method of management for arthritis. Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy, is a type of treatment that focuses on managing the physical aspects of a condition. Arthritis is a medical condition that is characterized by inflammation of the joints, which causes symptoms such as pain, stiffness and swelling. In general, the goal of physiotherapy for arthritis is to decrease arthritis pain, and to maintain the joints. Elements of physiotherapy for arthritis include strengthening exercises and joint preservation techniques.
Exercise is an important element of physiotherapy for arthritis. Through exercise, an affected person is able to strengthen his or her muscles, which in turn helps to decrease arthritis pain since the joints are then able to maintain their function without too much stress. The type of strengthening exercises a physiotherapist plans for an affected person depend on his or her condition because the mobility range and existing strength of one individual differs from another. Isometric exercises, for example, help strengthen muscles and do not require the affected person to use his or her joints, so it is not uncommon to see them used in physiotherapy for arthritis.
In addition to improving and maintaining strength, exercise also helps an affected person maintain the mobility of his or her joints. For example, joints have a normal range in which they move and simply allowing the joints to move through this normal range helps preserve joint mobility. Not only does this exercise enable the joints to maintain movement, it also helps to alleviate stiffness caused by letting the joints stay in one place for too long. A person might find it easier to perform this exercise while in water because water decreases the amount of weight that is normally put onto the joints.
As a part of physiotherapy for arthritis, a person might learn various ways to preserve the joints. For example, the way a person positions himself or herself can have an impact on the joints, and learning how to decrease the amount of stress put on certain areas of the body can aid in joint preservation. To relieve stress, a person might consciously put less weight on a certain joint, or might want to change positions on a regular basis so as to avoid stiffness. In physiotherapy, a physiotherapist might also recommend assistive devices and teach a person how to effectively use them to preserve joint mobility as well. Assistive devices include canes, crutches or walkers.
