If you have knee, hip, shoulder or other joint pain, physical therapy for osteoarthritis can help.
Osteoarthritis affects more than 33 million adults in the U.S. It can occur because of genetics, a lack of movement, joint damage or repetitive motion. And it’s also more common as people age. Osteoarthritis can impede mobility and cause pain, stiffness and swelling. But physical therapy can help protect your affected joints and ease discomfort. Plus, regular movement can stave off a worsening of the condition.
“Physical therapy will build strength in the muscles surrounding the joint to provide much needed support so that there is less painful irritation when loading the joint. ” said Dr. Heidi Chen, a specialist with Vanderbilt Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. “It can reduce the pain and improve function overall. Physical therapy cannot change what the joint looks like, but it can change patients’ quality of life dramatically.”
Physical therapy for osteoarthritis goals
A physical therapist will evaluate your movement to observe any range-of-motion restrictions. For example, if your shoulder is bothering you, the therapist will check if you can raise your arm over your head. The therapist will also look for muscle weaknesses and ways you might be compensating. Next is developing a customized treatment plan. The first step of a treatment plan typically involves increasing the flexibility and range of motion of a specific joint. The next step is developing muscle strength.
“Initially, the therapist will begin strengthening the muscles above and below the joint to get everything around it a little bit stronger,” Chen said. “Once movement across the joint becomes less painful, physical therapists will work on aerobic exercise to improve cardiovascular tolerance to physical activity. This translates to improved function, energy levels, and mood.”
Physical therapy commitment
At Vanderbilt, patients typically see their physical therapists for 30-minute appointments one to two times per week for several weeks, Chen said. They also receive a list of exercises to do at home between appointments. And over the course of treatment, the goal is to develop a consistent routine to carry forward in life after PT is complete.
“It’s important that the patient continues their exercises even after completing physical therapy,” she explained, “because arthritis doesn’t just go away so there will be painful flare ups and periods of times that are pain-free.” That’s why Chen likes to encourage patients to think of the movements as lifelong exercises.
Tailor-made programs
Not only is a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs based on the type of osteoarthritis you have and how it’s affecting your body, but it’s also tailored to your specific mobility goals.
“We want to make sure that we give the patient an exercise routine that they’re going to be able to be consistent with and fits into their life and goals,” Chen said. “If their goal is to get back to picking up their kids or playing with their grandkids, then the therapist is going to make sure exercises are around that specific movement. Every exercise can also be modified and performed in either a sitting, standing, or laying position. There are many variations that make exercise possible for everyone.”
Joint protection
Physical therapy and exercise in general are often the first lines of defense against joint pain and worsening osteoarthritis. Through muscle strengthening and mobility improvement, physical therapy may even help prevent or reduce your chances of having joint replacement surgery in the future.
Chen explains, “We know that moderate levels of exercise are protective against further development or worsening of osteoarthritis.”
Need help?
Vanderbilt Physical and Occupational Therapy can help you heal and regain function for all conditions requiring physical and occupational therapy, including osteoarthritis.
