Arthritis Treatment Parkway, MO

Arthritis Treatment Parkway, MO. Living with arthritis in Parkway, MO? After being diagnosed, you need a sound treatment plan. Millions of arthritis patients benefit from physical and occupational therapy treatment solutions for their arthritis treatment needs. Find out how these approaches can help you get the best arthritis treatment for you in Parkway, MO here, or reach out to Axes Physical Therapy today to speak to a joint and movement specialist about how we can help improve your quality of life.

As a treatment network currently fifteen locations strong, Axes Physical Therapy is poised to serve the arthritis treatment needs of countless patients in the Parkway, MO area and throughout Eastern Missouri. Discover our facilities nearest you or take the first step toward a more mobile and independent life with arthritis by requesting an appointment now.

Arthritis Treatment Parkway, MO: A Background on Arthritis

Arthritis describes a physical condition characterized by inflammation of the joints. Approximately 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 Parkway, MO, you are more than a number. Our team of Parkway, MO area physical and occupational therapists have dedicated their clinical careers to caring for arthritis patients with the arthritis treatment plan designed for their specific diagnosis and goals. When you entrust Axes for your Parkway, MO arthritis treatment, you are assigned a dedicated arthritis treatment therapist who knows how to address your condition and will approach your case using a treatment plan as unique as you are.

Types of Arthritis

The CDC identifies more than one hundred conditions that are grouped under the categorization arthritis. The causes and treatment methods differ from one diagnosis to the next, but in general, they all share the common traits of joint stiffness and inflammation. Landing on the safest and most effective arthritis treatment in Parkway, MO for you requires getting a timely and 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 etiology, mechanics, and prognoses of each condition, our Parkway, MO physical therapists and occupational therapists are able to provide successful treatment for many patients living with many forms of arthritis in the Parkway, MO area.

Osteoarthritis: a degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis is the most commonly occurring type of arthritis, affecting an estimated 27 million Americans alone. While people with the disease may differ in their experience of osteoarthritis, symptoms commonly include stiffness of the joint or joints, pain, and redness and swelling. With osteoarthritis, any part of the joints can be affected, 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 Parkway, MO with osteoarthritis benefit from an arthritis treatment plan that includes physical therapy, targeted joint exercises, lifestyle modifications, and education.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: an inflammatory autoimmune joint condition. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining found in joints, gradually moving farther to damage the bone and ligaments in the joints over time. Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the body symmetrically, such as in both right and left knees or both wrists. Your rheumatoid arthritis can also present additional symptoms outside of joint inflammation, such as whole-body weakness and low energy.

The American College of Rheumatology recommends the treat-to-target approach for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. In this treatment model, your treatment team works toward one of two goals: either reaching remission or lowering disease activity. Once we know what your goal is, we will design an arthritis treatment plan in Parkway, MO that addresses that goal and measure indicators of your disease over time.

Arthritis Treatment Options

There is no correct emotional reaction to being diagnosed with arthritis. It can certainly be painful and difficult to discover that you may be looking at a future of permanent joint damage. It is up to you to act quickly and seek arthritis treatment in Parkway, MO as soon as possible after you have been diagnosed to minimize the progress of your disease 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 key is to act quickly and focus on moving forward by finding the best possible arthritis treatment for your condition and needs. With a strong arthritis treatment team in Parkway, MO and early education about your disease and how to care for yourself, you have the power to make an impact on your arthritis — reducing permanent joint damage, preserving your mobility, and reducing pain.

The best arthritis treatment solution for you will depend primarily on the type of arthritis you have and what other health problems you face. Often, an arthritis treatment plan features one or more of the following:

Medication. Your doctor might prescribe or recommend medications such as NSAIDs, counterirritants, steroids, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Each medication comes with its own risks involved and the potential for side effects. Some are largely meant to address the symptoms of your arthritis. Others, like steroid injections and DMARDs have been shown to stunt the progression of arthritic joint degradation.
Physical or Occupational Therapy. Numerous peer-reviewed studies show that moderate, low-impact activity benefits the joints and helps manage arthritis. Your Parkway, MO physical and/or occupational therapy arthritis treatment will be a comprehensive plan made up of several modalities and manual care techniques as well as education, exercises to do at home, lifestyle modifications, and assistive devices. Physical therapy is a non-invasive approach that is tailored to the individual and presents minimal risk for most patients.
Surgery. Surgery is typically used for arthritis patients whose conditions have not responded to other more conservative arthritis treatment methods. Your Parkway, MO arthritis treatment team of medical professionals has a responsibility to consider and make you aware of all of the benefits and associated risks of undergoing surgery. Surgical procedures to treat arthritis include synovectomy, joint repair, joint replacement, and joint fusion. Your arthritis treatment plan should include physical therapy to help you prepare for and heal from your surgery.

Physical Therapy Arthritis Treatment in Parkway, MO

Physical therapy is a medical discipline concerned with the musculoskeletal disorders and movement health. The job of a physical therapist is to improve the quality of life of their patients by employing evidence-backed treatment methods. Our Parkway, MO physical therapists improve the lives of patients of all ages, genders, fitness levels, socioeconomic backgrounds, and conditions, including different types of arthritis.

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy in Parkway, MO, you will work with a joint specialist who has had a career of successfully treating arthritis for Parkway, MO patients. Your dedicated physical therapist will design an individualized arthritis treatment plan that targets your specific needs. We will work with you one-on-one and with the rest of your medical arthritis treatment team to ensure you receive the most promising physical therapy treatment modalities, home exercises and education, and modifications to your environment to maximize your quality of life.

In addition to the various modalities your Parkway, MO physical therapist will use in order to target your arthritis symptoms or slow the degeneration of your joints, educating you is another critical piece of your arthritis treatment. As experts in movement health and the musculoskeletal system, your physical therapist for arthritis treatment will guide you to:

Correct posture and gait
Integrate the use of assistive devices into your life.
Make changes around the house to make your daily activities easier
Change your diet, if necessary

The Parkway, 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:

What can physical therapy as arthritis treatment do for me?

Ultimately, the purpose of physical therapy for treating arthritis is to treat symptoms or keep the disease from progressing. Because of physical therapists’ background in movement science and expertise of the human musculoskeletal system, physical therapy patients are able to enjoy a number of benefits. When you turn to Axes Physical Therapy for your Parkway, MO arthritis treatment, you can expect any of 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

With physical therapy as a part of your arthritis treatment, you will work toward alleviating your symptoms and preserving your ability to perform daily tasks. 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 Parkway, MO arthritis treatment needs.

What can I do to supplement my Parkway, MO arthritis treatment plan?

The outcome of your Parkway, MO arthritis treatment requires your active participation, including following through on home exercises and any lifestyle modifications your arthritis treatment team prescribes. It is important that you trust your Parkway, MO arthritis treatment team and follow their advice. Some good practices you can implement in your life to support your arthritis treatment plan are:

Be 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 Parkway, MO

Get quality arthritis treatment from the leading physical and occupational therapists of the Parkway, MO area at Axes Physical Therapy. Your dedicated physical therapist will be an active member of your arthritis treatment team as a clinician with expertise 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.