With joint pain it can be difficult to perform your daily chores or favorite activities. It can have a debilitating effect on your daily life. You may have experienced joint pain at some point in your life. Sometimes this pain can go away on its own, but it may also linger for too long or become more severe.
Joint pain is any discomfort, pain or inflammation caused in part of a joint, which includes cartilage, muscles, bone, tendons, or ligaments. Joint pain is commonly referred to as arthritis or arthralgia, which is the inflammation within the joint itself. This pain can be mild and can cause soreness after certain movements or activities. In some cases, it can be severe making even the slightest movement very painful. The good news is that physiotherapy can help you deal with joint pain. It can help you regain your flexibility without drugs or surgery.
In this article we will look at the causes of joint pain and how physiotherapy can be useful to treat it.
If you have sustained any injury to a joint ligament or fractured a bone in a joint, you may have experienced excruciating pain over a certain time period. This type of pain is called acute joint pain. But some people go through chronic joint pain which can be even more debilitating and can last for years.
Chronic pain can be caused or worsen overtime due to the following factors:
Rheumatoid arthritis: This is caused by abnormal immune system responses that attack the linings of joints and cause swelling, stiffness, pain, and damage to the joint.
Osteoarthritis: It is usually age-related degeneration of the cartilage which cushions a joint’s bone ends.
Poor posture: People while working tend to sit in awkward or improper positions that causes strain to the body and results in stiffness and pain in the joints.
Musculoskeletal imbalances: Uneven muscle development can make it impossible to maintain a symmetrical posture. This can cause muscle spasms and pain in the joints.
Degenerative disc disease: This happens when normal changes that take place in the discs of the spine causes pain. It can cause severe joint pain in the neck or back.
Being overweight: Excess weight can put more pressure on weight-bearing joints. It can lead to premature joint deterioration and tissue strain.
Most types of joint pain can be fixed without surgery. Pain relieving drugs can only help to an extent. Physiotherapy can help deal with joint pain in a way that improves flexibility, movement and reduces the chances of pain occurring in the future.
Here are some ways in which physiotherapists can treat joint pain:
· Strength training that can help make the supporting tissues of your joints stronger.
· Stretches and exercises to make your joints flexible. Regular exercise can keep the joints' muscles strong, reduce bone loss and alleviate pain and swelling.
· Massage therapy and heat or ice therapy to reduce joint pain and inflammation without any drugs.
· The right ergonomic recommendations that can enable you to maintain a proper posture while you work. A physiotherapist can also recommend lifestyle changes that help you be more active.
· Recommendations to do outdoor activities like swimming, walking, or cycling to bring more movement to the joints and help maintain a healthy body weight.
Before beginning your physiotherapy treatment, it is best to consult your doctor first for a diagnosis. Find out what is responsible for causing joint pain. It is best to know the condition and its intensity to help determine the type of treatment you need.
Sometimes doctors themselves will recommend physical therapy to fix the pain. A physiotherapist can then assess your diagnosis to come up with a treatment plan to help you. Initially the therapist will conduct a series of tests by examining a range of motion, balance, and posture. They will ask you about your lifestyle and the type of work you do. Based on all these factors they will recommend treatments for you.
The treatment will most likely include a variety of exercises and manual therapy. Therapists will teach you proper ways to do various exercises. Regular exercise can restore the cartilage of the joints and reduce pain and stiffness. They will also recommend lifestyle changes and show you how to maintain a proper posture. These exercises will help improve movement and strengthen your joints. It also helps to relieve strain from your joints.
Manual therapy will include massage that your physiotherapist is skilled in. It can help relieve pain and reduce any pressure on your joints.
If you suffer from joint pain whether acute or chronic, then it is best to consult with your doctor first. After your diagnosis you can explore how physiotherapy can help you without the need for surgery. It is good to be proactive and take immediate action before your joint pain worsens. This way physiotherapy can improve your condition minimizing the need for surgery.
You can book a physiotherapy appointment with us here.