Have you ever woken up with stiff joints that hurt when you move and worsen as the day goes on? If you answered yes, you might be experiencing the early signs of arthritis. Aquatic therapy is an effective therapeutic option for arthritis patients and could help you!
Many people who suffer from this ailment refuse to get treatment because they believe they will have to deal with it as they become older. This could not be more untrue! Our educated and experienced therapists at Total Performance Physical Therapy in Hatfield, North Wales, and Norristown can help you manage your arthritis pain with our aquatic treatment program.
If you\’re looking for long-term relief from arthritic pain, aquatic treatment is a fantastic option. Our goal at our Hatfield, North Wales, and Norristown physical therapy clinics is to ensure that you can go about your daily activities without being hurt.
Request an appointment with us today to learn more about aquatic therapy and how it may benefit your arthritic condition.
Types of arthritis
Arthritis is a condition that attacks the joints of the body by causing mass amounts of pain and inflammation. According to the CDC, “In the United States, 23% of all adults—over 54 million people—have arthritis. About 24 million adults are limited in their activities from arthritis, and more than 1 in 4 adults with arthritis report severe joint pain.”
The most frequent type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. This problem is often a typical result of a lifetime of joint movement when combined with some alterations that occur with aging. It can occur due to a sudden joint injury, and it can even arise after previous damage has healed!
Normal, healthy joints not only provide a lubricating fluid to keep the ends of the bone moving smoothly, but also a cartilage layer that serves as a part of shock absorption and anti-friction.
Over time, however, the lubricating fluid output can begin to dry up as the cartilage becomes thinner and wearier until it eventually breaks down completely. If you try to shift or place weight on the joint, this leaves you with discomfort, swelling, and inflammation that typically feels worse.
Rheumatoid arthritis is another kind of arthritis that is caused by an auto-immune disorder or dysfunction. The same defense mechanisms that normally fight disease-causing germs decide to turn on your joints, mistaking them for the enemy and attacking them. This causes painful inflammation that comes and goes, leaving joint swelling and deformity in its wake.
A few factors include your medical history, hormones, and surroundings. Because it is an autoimmune illness, it is also typical for this ailment to affect the same joints on opposing sides of the body.
Could aquatic therapy help relieve your symptoms?
Aquatic therapy may help restore the use of joints affected by either of these arthritic conditions and increase your ability to move about and participate in everyday activities.
If you’re experiencing any of the following commonly experienced symptoms, aquatic therapy could be your best bet to finding pain relief!
Are you dealing with any of these daily?
- Swelling and inflammation
- Tenderness or soreness, especially in the mornings, as you begin to move around
- Joint pain
- Reduced range of motion
- Stiffness in the affected area
- Trouble getting up on your own or sitting down
If your answer is yes, aquatic therapy could provide several benefits to you!
Benefits of aquatic therapy for arthritis pain and discomfort
Aquatic therapy can help people with arthritis in a variety of ways. Patients who receive aquatic therapy are frequently able to avoid costly surgery or medicine purchases entirely! Your experienced therapists at Total Performance Physical Therapy in Hatfield, North Wales, and Norristown will be able to perform a thorough physical examination in order to determine the best treatment option for your specific pain problems.
For long-term rehabilitation, our aquatic therapy treatments are tailored to your unique needs. Aquatic treatment is a great alternative for people with arthritis since it helps to restore normal joint motion, strengthen supporting muscles, and improve general mobility. We can also show you how to prevent future joint injuries as well as at-home therapy exercises that you can do on your own.
Some exercises your aquatic therapist at Total Performance Physical Therapy may teach you during your treatment time with us are:
- Water walking
- Jumping jacks
- Frog jumps
- Forward lunges
- Sidestepping
- Hip kickers
- Squat jumps
These are just a few of the exercises that your therapist might recommend to you. Aquatic therapy will help you to able increase your range of motion in the affected joints. The physical therapy treatment you receive will be tailored to your unique condition and symptoms as well!
Request an appointment with Total Performance Physical Therapy
If you’re struggling with arthritis or have noticed any of the arthritic symptoms listed above, it’s a good idea to contact an aquatic therapist for an assessment as soon as possible.
Your days of succumbing to arthritis pain and discomfort could become few and far between, but there’s only one way to find out! Give Total Performance Physical Therapy a call today to set up your first appointment. We can’t to meet you and help you begin to feel your best!
