What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a very common condition that is a umbrella term for the 2 most common types arthritis Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Osteoarthritis effects nearly 9 million people and is a condition that occurs as through out life our joints will experience levels of stress this causes the tissues in and around joints to change, involving boney overgrowth, cartilage narrowing and pain when the joint is loaded. There is no clear evidence as to exactly why this happens with in the joint but it is understood that their are factors that can bring on osteoarthritis. As spoken about earlier stress on the joint but also if you have had a previous joint injury and the area has not fully healed. Age is another factor as our joints age with us it leads to them to natural aged related changes like, wrinkles on the inside. Osteoarthritis can also be passed down within families with increases your risk of having a onset of it. Obesity will increase the chances of having osteoarthritis due to putting more stress on your joints due to the excess weight. Osteoarthritis within study has been to be found more present in women than men.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that patient’s immune system (the body’s infection-fighting system) is overreacting against itself. The result can cause some or all of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Gender, heredity, and genes largely determine a person’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. For example, women are about three times more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis include medications, rest, exercise, physical therapy/occupational therapy, and surgery to correct damage to the joint.
How physiotherapy can help with arthritis?
Pain and stiffness often prompt people with arthritis to become inactive. However, inactivity can lead to a loss of joint motion, contractions, and a loss of muscle strength. These, in turn, decrease joint stability and increase fatigue.
Regular exercise especially in a controlled fashion with the help of physiotherapist can help prevent and reverse these effects. Beneficial workouts include: range-of-motion exercises to preserve and restore joint motion; exercises to increase strength, and; exercises to increase endurance.
Adam Bantock
