May is National Arthritis Awareness
Month
Do you or someone you
know have pain in their joints, but do not know the cause? You may have symptoms of arthritis. Today, nearly 50 million Americans suffer
from arthritis. Arthritis is often
misunderstood as minor aches and pain associated with getting old. However, there are many different forms of arthritis
that can occur at any age. Two-thirds of
the population with arthritis occurs in people under the age of 65, including
children. The three main types of
arthritis are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Juvenile Arthritis.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is
the most common form of arthritis and is characterized by progressive
degeneration of the joint’s cartilage, causing bone to rub against bone. It most commonly occurs in weight bearing
joints such as the hips, knees, and lower back.
OA has also been known to affect the neck, small finger joints, the base
of the thumb, and the big toe. Some of
the symptoms include gradual development of stiffness within the joint, pain or
joint soreness after overuse or inactivity, morning stiffness, and loss of
motion/movement within the joint. Several
risk factors can lead to the development of OA including obesity/overweight,
history of joint injury, overuse, genetics, muscle weakness, and age. OA usually occurs later in life as a person
ages. It is described as the “wear and
tear” of your joints, and the older you are the more you have used your joints,
putting them at greater risk for OA. However, older age does not mean OA is
inevitable.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
is a systemic disease characterized as inflammation of the joint lining causing
pain, stiffness, warmth, and swelling that can occur throughout the body. RA is symmetrical, affecting the same joints
on both sides of the body. RA affects
nearly three times the amount of women than men and most commonly begins
between the ages of 30 and 60 years old.
RA has no cure and progression leads to development of rheumatoid
nodules and joint deformities. Although
there is no cure for RA, highly effective treatments exist including
medications, physical therapy, physical activity, weight control, and
maintaining good overall health.
Juvenile arthritis (JA) can
have many different forms but is generally described as an autoimmune and
inflammatory condition that can develop in children ages 16 years and younger. JA affects the joints like RA and OA; however,
it can also affect the eyes, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. There is no known cause for JA, but it has
been suggested that toxins, foods, allergies, or genetics can cause a child to
develop the disease. Symptoms are
similar to RA and OA and include inflammation of the joints, pain, and joint
stiffness. It is important with JA that
the entire family maintains a sense of calm and normalcy, as well as sticking
to daily routines and comforting habits.
It is also important to address emotions of sadness, anxiety, and anger
the child may have to help maintain the attitude that “arthritis is something I
have to live with but not what defines me”.
There are options, other
than surgery, to help improve your symptoms like stretching, walking, strengthening,
Tia Chi, and physical therapy. As a physical
therapist, my goals in treating arthritis are to decrease the amount of pain,
improve strength of muscles to increase stability around the joint, stretch
muscles that are tight and might be hindering proper body mechanics, and
improve joint protection. It has been
shown in recent research that exercising is a valuable tool in decreasing the
symptoms of arthritis. Some specific interventions
that physical therapy might provide include modalities, braces and splints to
protect joints, and hot or cold packs. A
physical therapist will work with you to modify your daily activities and your
environment to provide pain relief and improve function. Physical therapy will improve flexibility in
your hamstrings, quads, calves, and hip flexors while strengthening the muscles
around your knee, hip, and ankle. Your
appointments may also include coordination and balance activities.
If you or someone you
know is experiencing any of the signs and symptoms discussed above, or has been
diagnosed with a form of arthritis, you might think about scheduling an evaluation
with a physical therapist to address your symptoms. You can contact AZOPT at (623) 242-6908
if you have any questions or concerns.
For more information,
please visit www.arthritis.org.
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