Arthritis Treatment Argentville, MO. Living with arthritis in Argentville, MO? Whether you just received your diagnosis or have struggled with symptoms for years, you need a safe and evidence-based treatment plan. Millions of arthritis patients benefit from physical and occupational therapy treatment solutions for their arthritis treatment needs. Find out more about these and other important pieces of an arthritis treatment plan in Argentville, MO here, or contact Axes Physical Therapy today to speak to a joint and movement specialist about how we can help you continue to live the life you want.
With fifteen area locations and counting, Axes Physical Therapy is poised to serve the arthritis treatment needs of countless individuals in the Argentville, MO area and throughout Eastern Missouri. Explore our facilities nearest you or begin your path to a more mobile and independent life with arthritis by making an appointment request now.
Arthritis Treatment Argentville, MO: An Introduction to Arthritis
Arthritis refers to a physical condition characterized by inflammation of the joints. Somewhere around 58.5 million adults in the United States have some type of arthritis, and nearly half of them — about 25.7 million — experience significant limitations in their daily life due to their condition. After neck and back problems and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, arthritis is the third most common cause of disability for working-age adults in the US.
Arthritis clearly has a major impact on our society, but the statistics on their own don’t paint a complete picture where your own experience is concerned. As an arthritis treatment patient at Axes Physical Therapy near Argentville, MO, you are more than a number. Our physical therapists and occupational therapists in the Argentville, MO area have dedicated their clinical careers to caring for arthritis patients affected by all different types of arthritis suffering from varying degrees of pain and disability. When you entrust Axes for your Argentville, MO arthritis treatment, you are assigned a dedicated arthritis treatment therapist who knows how to design a treatment plan for you that addresses your goals and fits your lifestyle.
Types of Arthritis
According to the CDC, there are over one hundred conditions that fall under the category of arthritis. Each diagnosis is characterized by their own causes and treatment methods, but in general, they all share the common traits of inflammation and stiffness of the joints. Getting the right arthritis treatment in Argentville, MO for you requires getting an accurate diagnosis and understanding your condition.
There are numerous diagnoses that are considered arthritis, and some are more common than others. We describe the two top kinds of arthritis below. By becoming experts on the specific causes, trajectory, and outlook of each type of arthritis, our Argentville, MO physical therapists and occupational therapists are skilled in effectively treating countless patients living with various forms of arthritis in the Argentville, MO area.
Osteoarthritis: a degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis is the most commonly occurring type of arthritis, reaching an estimated 27 million Americans alone. While it affects people in different ways, common symptoms include joint stiffness, pain, and redness and swelling. Your osteoarthritis can affect any part of the joint, as cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and bones in the affected joint(s) can wear down.
Medical professionals put physical therapy at the top of the list of recommended treatments for osteoarthritis. Patients in Argentville, MO with osteoarthritis should make sure their arthritis treatment includes physical therapy, targeted joint exercises, lifestyle modifications, and education.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: an autoimmune inflammatory disease. When you have rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, damaging the rest of the joints, including bones and ligaments. Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the body symmetrically, such as in both right and left knees or both wrists. Patients may experience additional symptoms beyond of joint pain and stiffness, such as loss of appetite and fatigue.
The American College of Rheumatology recommends using what is known as the treat-to-target approach for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Following the treat-to-target method, your treatment team works toward one of two goals: either reaching remission or lowering disease activity. With your goal in mind, we will design an arthritis treatment plan in Argentville, MO that addresses that goal and measure progress through periodic tests.
Arthritis Treatment Methods
There is no correct emotional reaction to being diagnosed with arthritis. It is normal to feel overwhelmed, angry, or hopeless when you be told that you could be looking at a future of permanent joint damage. It is vital that you act quickly and seek arthritis treatment in Argentville, MO as soon as possible after you have been diagnosed to minimize your joint damage and maximize your quality of life.
Under the umbrella of arthritis, there are a wide variety of conditions that have many different causes. You may have arthritis due to a genetic trait, an injury, autoimmune reaction, or infection. Regardless of the cause, the important thing after diagnosis is to act quickly and focus on moving forward by finding the right arthritis treatment for your condition and needs. With a sound arthritis treatment plan in Argentville, MO and sufficient early education, you can have a positive impact on your arthritis — minimizing permanent damage, preserving your mobility, and decreasing pain.
The best arthritis treatment option for you will depend primarily on the type of arthritis you have and any other health conditions or complications you might have. Often, an arthritis treatment plan features one or more of the following:
- Medication. Your doctor might prescribe or recommend the use of NSAIDs, counterirritants, steroids, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Each medication comes with its own risks involved and possible negative side effects. Some of these medications are largely only effective in alleviating your arthritis symptoms, though steroid injections and DMARDs have been shown to slow the progression of arthritic joint degradation.
- Physical or Occupational Therapy. Research tells us that gentle, low-impact physical activity is beneficial to joints and helps manage arthritis. As part of your comprehensive arthritis treatment plan in Argentville, MO, you will work with your physical or occupational therapist to receive hands-on care techniques as well as education, home exercises, lifestyle modifications, and assistive devices. Physical therapy is a non-invasive approach that is tailored to the individual and presents minimal risk for the majority of patients.
- Surgery. Surgery is usually reserved for arthritis patients whose conditions have been unresponsive to other more conservative arthritis treatment methods. Your doctors and other members of your Argentville, MO arthritis treatment team have a responsibility to explore and educate you on all of the possible benefits and potential risks of undergoing a surgical operation. Surgical procedures for arthritis include synovectomy, joint repair, joint replacement, and joint fusion. If you are a candidate for surgery, your arthritis treatment plan should incorporate physical therapy to help you prepare for and heal from your surgery.
Physical Therapy Arthritis Treatment in Argentville, MO
Physical therapy is a medical field based in movement health. A physical therapist’s charge is to improve the quality of life of their patients through the use of evidence-backed treatment methods. Our Argentville, MO physical therapists work with patients of all ages, genders, fitness levels, socioeconomic backgrounds, and medical conditions, including different types of arthritis.
When you come to Axes Physical Therapy in Argentville, MO, you will work with a movement specialist with experience treating arthritis for Argentville, MO patients. Your personal physical therapist will develop a tailored arthritis treatment plan that addresses your specific needs. We will work with you one-on-one and with the rest of your medical arthritis treatment team to select the appropriate physical therapy treatment modalities, supplemental exercises and education, and modifications to your home and work in an effort to maximize your quality of life.
In addition to the hands-on care your Argentville, MO physical therapist will use in order to target your arthritis symptoms or slow the degeneration of your joints, education is another critical part of the arthritis treatment puzzle. As movement health experts who specialist in the musculoskeletal system, your physical therapist for arthritis treatment will assist you in accomplishing the following:
- Correct posture and gait
- Find the right assistive devices such as shoe inserts and braces.
- Make changes around the house to make household tasks easier
- Find the right diet
The Argentville, MO physical and occupational therapists of Axes are equipped to help anyone manage chronic conditions, heal from injuries, prevent injuries and improve overall movement health. Learn more about a few of our services and capabilities, such as:
- Shin Splint Treatment
- Direct Access Physical Therapy
- Gait Analysis
- Pelvic Floor Therapy
- Dry Needling Near Me
- Tendonitis Treatment
- Manual Physical Therapy
- Orthopedic Rehab Near Me
- Beginner Running Program
- Chronic Pain Treatment
What can physical therapy as arthritis treatment do for me?
Ultimately, the purpose of physical therapy for treating arthritis is to treat symptoms or stunt the progression of the disease. Because of your physical therapist’s background in movement science and expertise of the human musculoskeletal system, physical therapy offers a wide range of benefits. When you turn to Axes Physical Therapy for your Argentville, MO arthritis treatment, you may experience the following benefits:
- Increased range of motion
- Reduced stiffness
- Preserved bone strength
- Increased joint support
- Improved fitness
- Weight loss
- Superior balance and posture
- Other benefits such as more energy, better mental health, and better sleep
Physical therapy as an arthritis treatment can make life with arthritis easier by treating your symptoms and preserving your ability to enjoy life and do the activities that are important to you. Start managing your arthritis and improving your overall movement health and quality of life with the gentle, personalized, evidence-backed care you get when you come to Axes Physical Therapy for your Argentville, MO arthritis treatment needs.
What things can I do at home to support my Argentville, MO arthritis treatment plan?
The outlook of your Argentville, MO arthritis treatment requires your active involvement, including adhering to home exercises and any lifestyle modifications your arthritis treatment team prescribes. You must find an arthritis treatment team near Argentville, MO that are comfortable with and trust to follow their advice. To support a good arthritis treatment plan, there a number of things you can do on your own, including:
- Stay active
- Eat a balanced diet
- Reach and/or maintain a healthy weight
- Avoid stress
- Practice good posture
- Get good rest
- Make modifications to your home space
- Use heat applications
- Quit smoking
One of the best things anyone with arthritis can do for themselves is to stay active. Physical therapy helps you optimize your efforts by prescribing the best home exercises and teaching you the proper technique to protect your joints. If you historically live an inactive lifestyle, remember to start slow and be patient. Protect your joints from undue stress by performing only low-impact exercises. Consult with your physical or occupational therapist to make sure you have the techniques and exercises that are safe and effective for arthritis treatment.
Begin Arthritis Treatment in Argentville, MO
Get quality arthritis treatment from the leading physical and occupational therapists of the Argentville, MO area at Axes Physical Therapy. Your dedicated physical therapist will be an active member of your arthritis treatment team as a clinician who specializes in movement and joint health and has clinical experience treating diseases like yours. Our network of local, practitioner-owned physical therapy clinics is here to provide you with personalized, one-on-one care for your arthritis. Visit the location nearest you today or contact us now to speak to a doctor about your arthritis treatment needs or to schedule your first appointment. When it comes to treating your arthritis, there is no time to waste. Contact Axes Physical Therapy today.