How Physical Therapy Can Help Your Mobility When You Have Arthritis

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, but they all share one thing in common — they lead to joint pain and inflammation. And when your joints aren’t functioning well, it places great limitations on your mobility. 

While most arthritis experts agree that exercise is vital to maintaining your joint health, physical therapy goes far beyond exercise, as we customize a program to your unique needs. 

At Valiant Life Medical, our team understands the frustrations that come with arthritis, and through our physical therapy programs, we can help improve your mobility so that you can get back to your normal life.

Here’s a look at just a few of the many benefits of physical therapy when you have arthritis.

Building strength

Each of your joints, especially those major ones that you rely on for mobility, has supporting structures. Through physical therapy, we work on strengthening the soft tissues that surround your joint, namely your muscles, to take the pressure of your joints.

For example, if you struggle with knee osteoarthritis, simple quad strengthening exercises can go a long way toward helping your beleaguered knees function better.

Movement is key

Your joints are meant to move, but when pain and inflammation set in, moving may be the last thing on your mind. Through physical therapy, we introduce you to simple techniques for keeping your joints active, which helps reduce the inflammation and stiffness.

Flexibility matters

While strengthening the tissues that surround your joints is key, so is maintaining flexibility. With physical therapy, we design a program that targets the soft tissues in your joints, which can become very tight when you have arthritis. Through gentle stretching exercises, we can loosen the tissues, which promotes better circulation and the flow of natural healing resources.

On top of that, stretching allows you to maintain mobility and range of motion.

Better balance

Another great benefit of physical therapy is our focus on balance. When major joints like your hips or knees are affected by arthritis, you may experience some balance issues. Through physical therapy, we concentrate on helping you maintain balance to reduce your risks for falling.

When you have better balance, you can perform everyday tasks more safely, from walking to negotiating stairs to getting in and out of your car.

The bottom line is that physical therapy can not only help restore your mobility, it can also slow the progression of your arthritis. To get started on your tailored physical therapy program, contact our office in Fort Worth, Texas, to set up an appointment.