Arthritis is a common condition affecting millions worldwide, causing joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. While surgery is sometimes necessary for severe cases, many individuals can find relief through non-surgical treatments. Physical therapy can often be an excellent conservative treatment option for some types of arthritis, depending on symptoms. If you come to EW Motion Therapy with arthritis, your therapist will evaluate the primary ways the condition impacts your daily movement and develop a custom treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals. Even if you seek other types of treatment, it can be important to understand what arthritis is, the types of arthritis, its causes, how it affects joints and causes pain, and the various non-surgical options to manage pain, including the role of physical therapy.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joints, often resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness. It encompasses more than 100 different types, making it one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. According to the CDC, 23% of adults in the United States have been diagnosed with arthritis, impacting their daily lives and overall well-being. The most common types of arthritis include:
- Osteoarthritis (OA): Often called "wear-and-tear" arthritis, which occurs when the protective cartilage cushioning the ends of the bones wears down over time.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): An autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, causing inflammation and damage to the joint lining.
- Other notable forms: Psoriatic arthritis (associated with psoriasis), gout (caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints), and juvenile arthritis (affecting children under the age of 16).
Causes and effects of arthritis
The causes of arthritis vary depending on the type but often include:
- Age: Increased wear and tear on joints with aging.
- Genetics: A family history of arthritis can increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
- Injury: Joint injuries can lead to arthritis later in life.
- Infection: Certain infections trigger arthritis in susceptible individuals.
- Autoimmune responses: Conditions like RA involve the immune system targeting healthy tissue.
Arthritis impacts the joints through mechanisms such as inflammation, which causes swelling and pain; cartilage damage, particularly in OA, where cartilage deteriorates and leads to bone-on-bone contact; joint stiffness, as excess fluid and inflammation restrict movement; and structural changes, where chronic inflammation in RA results in joint deformities over time. These effects often make even simple activities like walking or gripping objects challenging, significantly reducing quality of life.
How arthritis causes pain
Arthritis-related pain arises through several mechanisms that significantly impact joint function and overall comfort. Inflammation plays a central role, as swollen tissues create pressure on nerves around the joint, leading to localized pain and tenderness. Joint degeneration, particularly in osteoarthritis, results in the loss of cartilage, leaving sensitive bone surfaces exposed and vulnerable to friction and irritation. This degeneration is often accompanied by muscle tension, as the instability of affected joints causes nearby muscles to tighten in an attempt to compensate for the weakened structure. Additionally, nerve irritation caused by chronic inflammation amplifies pain signals, making even minor joint movements painful. Together, these mechanisms contribute to the persistent and often debilitating discomfort associated with arthritis.
Non-surgical pain relief options
Many individuals manage arthritis pain without surgery through a variety of effective approaches:
- Medications: These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, corticosteroids for quick relief by suppressing inflammation, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to slow disease progression in autoimmune types like RA.
- Lifestyle changes: Maintaining a healthy weight alleviates stress on weight-bearing joints, and a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods like fish, nuts, and leafy greens can improve symptoms.
- Physical activity: Low-impact exercises such as swimming, cycling, and yoga enhance joint mobility and reduce stiffness, while strength training stabilizes joints by reinforcing surrounding muscles.
- Assistive devices: Braces, orthotics, and canes provide support by reducing strain and improving mobility.
- Alternative therapies: Acupuncture has shown promise in alleviating arthritis pain for some individuals, while massage therapy helps reduce muscle tension and boost circulation.
- Heat and cold therapy: Heat increases circulation and relieves stiffness, while cold therapy minimizes swelling and numbs acute pain.
These combined strategies enable many people to manage arthritis symptoms effectively without surgical intervention.
The role of physical therapy
Physical therapy plays a vital role in managing arthritis symptoms and improving quality of life by offering a range of customized interventions tailored to specific types of arthritis. For osteoarthritis (OA), therapy often focuses on stretching exercises to enhance flexibility and reduce stiffness, as well as strengthening exercises targeting muscles around weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips to improve stability. Techniques such as manual therapy are employed to relieve pain caused by cartilage degeneration and enhance joint mobility.
For rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the focus shifts to gentle range-of-motion exercises to maintain joint function and prevent deformities, combined with low-impact strengthening exercises to reduce stress on inflamed joints. Physical therapists may also provide posture correction to address compensatory movements and education on energy conservation strategies to reduce fatigue.
In cases of psoriatic arthritis, therapy integrates manual therapy and mobility exercises to address stiffness and pain, while specific techniques are applied to reduce inflammation-induced joint damage.
For juvenile arthritis, therapists emphasize playful and engaging exercises that build joint strength and maintain flexibility while minimizing discomfort. According to a 2019 study published in Arthritis Care & Research, patients who participated in a six-week physical therapy program experienced a 30% reduction in pain levels and significant improvements in joint function, showcasing its effectiveness in managing various forms of arthritis.
When to consider surgery
While non-surgical treatments are effective for many individuals, some cases of arthritis may necessitate surgical intervention, particularly when symptoms become severe and unmanageable. Indicators for considering surgery include:
- Severe pain that does not respond to other treatments.
- Significant joint deformity that impacts daily function.
- Total loss of joint function that compromises mobility and quality of life.
Despite these challenges, early intervention through a well-rounded and comprehensive treatment plan can often delay or even eliminate the need for surgery, allowing many individuals to maintain mobility and manage symptoms effectively.
Arthritis is a complex condition, but effective non-surgical treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. From medication and lifestyle adjustments to physical therapy, there are numerous ways to address pain and maintain joint health. Understanding your specific type of arthritis and working with healthcare professionals can create a path to relief, enabling you to stay active and live well without surgery. For more information on how physical therapy can help you move better with less pain, click the button below to download our answers to 20 frequently-asked questions.
