Arthritis Rehabilitation
Our arthritis rehabilitation program is developed to meet both the functional goals and the needs of our patients. Factors like the type and severity of the arthritis are taken into consideration.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are characterized by joint swelling, tenderness, and pain. Limitation of motion of joints and connective tissues in the body typically occur to individuals with arthritis or rheumatic diseases.
Rheumatic diseases include any diseases that exhibits pain, stiffness, tenderness, and swelling in joints or other supportive body structures, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones.
Although Arthritis worsens with age, inactivity, and lack of medical intervention or physical rehabilitation, it may also affect younger individuals.
In most cases, arthritis is chronic which means it is persistent, long-lasting, and worsens in time.
Research shown physical therapy is vital to improve joint pain and improve overall function. Long term rehabilitation management is effective in reducing functional decline, joint degradation, and overall muscle weakness.
The Three Most Common Types Of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis. A chronic disease considered as the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis involves the joints, particularly the weight-bearing joints such as the knee, hip, and spine. It is characterized by the destruction of cartilage and narrowing of the joint space. Osteoarthritis can also include bone overgrowth, bone spur formation, and decline in function. It occurs in most people as they age, but also occur in young people as a result of repetitive trauma, injury, or overuse.
Fibromyalgia. A disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain often accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Pain usually manifests throughout the body.
Rheumatoid Arthritis. A chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints. In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels. An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s tissues. As the disorder affects the lining of the joints, it causes painful swelling that can result in bone erosion and joint deformity. The damage to other parts of the body are mainly due to inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Other Forms Of Arthritis
Gout. A form of arthritis characterized by severe pain, redness, and tenderness in joints. Gout is a result of a defect in body chemistry (such as uric acid in the joint fluid), this painful condition most often attacks small joints, especially the big toe.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. A very serious and chronic systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
Ankylosing Spondylitis. An inflammatory arthritis affecting the spine and large joints. Symptoms typically appear in early adulthood and include reduced flexibility in the spine. this reduced flexibility eventually results in a hunched-forward posture. Pain in the back and joints is also common.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis or Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. A type of arthritis that causes joint inflammation and stiffness for more than six weeks in a child aged 16 or younger.
