Arthritis Awareness Month

For millions of Americans, arthritis is a major source of pain and discomfort. Even simple movements can cause excruciating and debilitating joint pain. In celebration of arthritis awareness month, our team at Movement Concepts Physical Therapy has provided the following information on arthritis and how our physical therapy in Bayside, Garden City, and Rockville Centre can help alleviate your arthritis pain.

Despite the prevalence of the disease, many people still have questions and misconceptions regarding arthritis. Arthritis is actually a general term that is used to describe many conditions and disorders that cause joint pain or discomfort. There are nearly 100 different forms of arthritis. Here are some of the most common and most severe forms of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis: This is the most common form of arthritis and it occurs when the cartilage found between two bones degrades over time. As the cartilage disappears, the bones begin to go against each other, which causes pain. Some of the causes of osteoarthritis include injuries, family history, obesity, and overusing the joint.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease, which means the body’s immune system makes a mistake and attacks a perfectly healthy joint. This causes severe inflammation and joint pain. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects joints in the knee, wrist, and hands. Symptoms include pain and inflammation in multiple joints at once, fatigue, weakness, fever, and weight loss.

Gout: Gout occurs when there is too much uric acid in the body and uric acid crystals build up in the joints. This creates a lot of intense pain and inflammation. Gout often occurs in the big toe, the feet, the ankles and the knees. Things such as obesity, family history, and high alcohol use can be major factors in developing gout.

Although there is no cure for arthritis, there are still several steps that you can take to prevent and limit joint damage.

1. Diet change: Obesity is a major causing factor in many forms of arthritis. The extra body weight can put an excessive and unhealthy amount of pressure on your joints. Eating healthy foods and avoiding things such as alcohol, sugar, and fatty foods can help keep your joints healthy. Eating omega-3 rich foods, such as fish and walnuts, have also been shown to help manage painful arthritis symptoms.
2. Exercise: Exercise can help prevent arthritis by relieving your joints from stress. Exercise can also strengthen the muscles that surround your joints, which helps with preventing joint injuries. Physical activity can also have beneficial effects for those who already have arthritis. Although there might be some initial pain, keeping the joints active can help limit pain and improve your quality of life.
3. Physical therapy:  Another option for dealing with arthritis is going through a physical therapy program. Physical therapy can help arthritis patients by utilizing several exercises that are designed to strengthen the muscles surrounding your joints and to protect their mobility. Here at Movement Concepts Physical Therapy in Bayside, we can create an arthritis treatment program that is tailor-made for you and your objectives. With our professional guidance, we can help you manage your arthritis symptoms and limit joint pain and damage in a safe and effective manner.

Are you suffering from arthritis? Set up an appointment with for physical therapy in Bayside by clicking here!