Physiotherapy for arthritis sufferers in Cambridge
By far the most common type of arthritis is Osteoarthritis (OA). You might have been told that you have ‘degenerative changes’ or ‘wear and tear’ arthritis in one or more of your joints. These are all terms for the same condition.
OA can affect one joint or several joints and the severity varies both between individuals and depending on which joints have been affected. The most common joints affected are knees, hips and the small joints at the base of your thumb.
Common symptoms of arthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition that develops slowly. You might initially have noticed an aching in your joints after heavier work or exercise. Gradually this aching becomes more apparent most of the time and getting your joints moving in the morning or after resting (stiffness) is a common complaint.
How can a physiotherapist help?
In our Cambridge clinic we treat lots of people suffering from arthritis and it mainly affects the hands, knees, hips and spine (neck or lower back). Successful physio treatment requires a combination of approaches tailored to your lifestyle, needs and general health. An effective management programme might include pain medication, lifestyle advice, weight control, exercise and non-drug pain treatments.
As part of your management program our physiotherapists offer a number of pain treatments including:
- Acupuncture
- Transcutanenous nerve stimulation (TNS)
- Massage
- Heat or cold packs
Exercise to improve arthritis
Exercise is the best way to treat arthritis in the long term and a carefully planned physiotherapy exercise programme has few side effects.
The right exercises will significantly help to decrease pain, improve flexibility and increase the muscle strength and support for arthritic joints. A well-rounded programme will also improve your movement patterns, balance, co-ordination and lift your mood. Our physios will also advise you on rest breaks, an important component of an arthritis exercise programme.
