Physical Therapy: Why It's Important, When to Go & What to Expect | Houston  Methodist On Health

Arthritis pain can range from mild to chronic pain but often affects the quality of your life. Fortunately, several treatment options are available to manage joint pain depending on the affected joint in your body. Physical therapy plays a central role when dealing with pain from most joints. The Lake Oconee orthopaedic specialist recommends physical therapy through massage, joint mobilization, strength and endurance exercises, or guided stretching. Physical therapy often aims to overcome pain, boost strength, and restore joint action after treatment. Here are different ways physical therapy is beneficial in dealing with joint pain.

Offers Pain Relief

Pain relief is one of the main goals of physical therapy for joint pain. Although resting provides temporary relief, remaining active helps overcome the pain in the long term. Your therapist guides you in specific exercises and stretches that ease inflammation in your joint by promoting lubrication. Regular physical activity can also minimize pressure from your affected joint, boost strength in surrounding tissues, and promote mobility to avoid further complications. Your provider can also guide you in doing some stretches and exercises at home without stressing the affected joints.

Improves Range of Motion

One can be tempted to rest a painful joint away since motion could increase pain. Although that is crucial for the initial stages of treatment, you ought to keep the joint moving to maintain motion and flexibility of the joint. Depending on the nature of your injury, physical therapy can be applied before or after our treatment to increase muscle strength and improve mobility in the connective tissues. It helps you boost your activity tolerance, which is vital for your leisure, work, and completing daily chores.

Improves Joint Health

Many physical therapists apply joint manipulations and mobilization to help manage hip or knee pain. By attracting circulation in the joint’s interior, healing is promoted, which fastens recovery. The techniques also can boost joint alignment to help overcome pain and improve your joint wellbeing. Your therapists can also combine the techniques with others, like active release and massage, to boost your overall physical and mental well-being.

Decreases Drug Reliance

Medication is also one of the ways you can manage arthritis pain. However, most drugs have side effects that can limit your life. Medications provide pain relief for the short term, and you might have to rely on them to feel better. You will only be required to take higher doses if pain persists, which increases your chances of experiencing serious side effects. However, physical therapy comes in to deliver long-term pain relief. Physical therapy is the alternative to managing joint pain without drugs.

Speeding Up Recovery

Some advanced cases of joint pain might require advanced treatments like managing surgery. Your provider can recommend surgery as a last resort to overcome your joint complication. Physical therapy forms a crucial part of your recovery after such a treatment to maintain motion in the joint and promote healing. Your therapist will create a rehabilitation plan depending on the surgery you receive. Sometimes physical therapy can help you get used to your new joint when joint replacement is done.

Indeed, physical therapy, in many ways, plays a critical role in managing joint pain. Contact the Joint Regeneration of Lake Oconee specialists today to explore your joint pain relief options. Make a call or schedule the appointment online.

By Alexander James

Beau Alexander James: Beau, a mental health advocate, shares personal stories, coping strategies, and promotes mental health awareness and understanding.