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Arthritis and Physical Therapy Overview

Narrow By: Causes and Risk Factors for Arthritis • Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis • Diagnosis of Arthritis • Complications of Arthritis • Prevention of Arthritis • Conventional Treatment of Arthritis • Which Alternative Therapies Are Used for the Treatment of Arthritis and How Effective Are They? • Arthritis and Guggul • Arthritis and Dong Quai • Arthritis and Moxibustion
 
Scientific:
Good Scientific Evidence 8
 
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The goal of physical therapy is to improve mobility, restore function, reduce pain, and prevent further injuries. Several techniques, including exercises, stretches, traction, electrical stimulation, and massage, are used. Physical therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee may provide short-term benefits, but long-term benefits do not appear better than standard treatments. Physical therapy, either as an individually delivered treatment or in a small group format, appears effective. Only one available study compared physical therapy to a sham group (subtherapeutic ultrasound) and found that a combination of manual physical therapy and supervised exercise was beneficial for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. One method of physical therapy, infrared short-wave diathermy-pulsed patterns and interferential therapy, showed more effectiveness than intra-articular hyaluronan drugs in two studies. More research using consistent treatment protocols and outcomes measures would be helpful in this area.
    
Not all physical therapy programs are suited for everyone and patients should discuss their medical history with their qualified healthcare professionals before beginning any treatments. Based on the available literature, physical therapy appears generally safe when practiced by a qualified physical therapist. Physical therapy may aggravate pre-existing conditions. Persistent pain and fractures of unknown origin have been reported. Physical therapy may increase the duration of pain or cause limitation of motion. Pain and anxiety may occur during the rehabilitation of patients with burns. Both morning stiffness and bone erosion have been reported in the physical therapy literature, although causality is unclear. Erectile dysfunction has also been reported. All therapies during pregnancy and breastfeeding should be discussed with a licensed obstetrician/gynecologist before initiation.

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Arthritis Top Remedies

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Meditation for Arthritis
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Propolis for Arthritis
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User Experiences

Kath Malone I take Glucosamine daily and it seems to have prevented my knees from worsening. I also get less pain in them. However, I am suffering with arthritis in the hands and wrrist now and the glucosamine does not seem to help this.
Posted by Kath Malone , 2 months ago
Annette Snow This is very good for swollen, stinging , burning symptoms . Especially in your feet. Also swollen feet ( acts as diuretic)
It also gets rid of gout or pseudo gout where small crystals form in your blood or joins causing pain. Less expensive then cherry juice and acts similarly on your system. I pick my own and make a tea (wear gloves).
Posted by Annette Snow , 4 months ago
CARI I take ginger root and mint tea in order to treat my joint pain. I find that it really works.
Posted by CARI , 5 months ago
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Shirl A natural remedy for knee arthritis?
1 month ago by  Shirl , 3 answers
chichen I am suffering from rheumatoid arthritis?
2 months ago by  chichen , 7 answers
donald What treatments work best on arthritis pain?
4 months ago by  donald , 3 answers
 
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