Arthritis Treatment Portage Des Sioux, MO

Arthritis Treatment Portage Des Sioux, MO. Living with arthritis in Portage Des Sioux, MO? Whether you just received your diagnosis or have struggled with symptoms for years, you need a safe and evidence-based treatment plan. Occupational and physical therapy help millions of patients receive effective arthritis treatment. Learn how these approaches can help you get the best arthritis treatment for you in Portage Des Sioux, MO here, or contact Axes Physical Therapy today to discuss how our joint and movement experts can help improve your quality of life.

With fifteen area locations and counting, Axes Physical Therapy is positioned to serve the arthritis treatment needs of hundreds of patients living with arthritis in Portage Des Sioux, MO and throughout Eastern Missouri. Discover our facilities nearest you or take the first step toward enjoying life to the fullest while living with arthritis by requesting an appointment now.

Arthritis Treatment Portage Des Sioux, MO: An Introduction to Arthritis

Arthritis describes a physical condition characterized by inflammation of the joints. Somewhere around 58.5 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with a form of arthritis, and nearly half of them — around 25.7 million — report that their condition have a severe impact on their ability to operate and execute daily tasks. That makes arthritis the third leading cause of disability among working-age adults, after neck and back problems and mental health conditions like depression.

The count tells us how deeply arthritis affects our communities reach arthritis has, but , but when it comes to your own condition, your experience is unique. As an arthritis treatment patient at Axes Physical Therapy near Portage Des Sioux, MO, you are not just a number. Our team of Portage Des Sioux, MO area physical and occupational therapists have dedicated their clinical careers to providing arthritis treatment to individuals affected by all different types of arthritis suffering from varying degrees of pain and disability. When you entrust Axes for your Portage Des Sioux, MO arthritis treatment, you are assigned a personal, dedicated arthritis treatment professional who knows how to address your condition and will approach your case using a treatment plan as unique as you are.

Types of Arthritis

According to the CDC, there are over 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 inflammation and stiffness of the joints. Landing on the safest and most effective arthritis treatment in Portage Des Sioux, MO for you depends in part on receiving an accurate diagnosis that allows you and your treatment team to grasp your condition.

There are numerous diagnoses that are considered arthritis, and some are more widespread than others. We describe the two top kinds of arthritis below. By understanding the specific etiology, trajectory, and prognoses of each type of arthritis, our Portage Des Sioux, MO physical therapists and occupational therapists are skilled in effectively treating countless patients who have been diagnosed with various forms of arthritis in the Portage Des Sioux, MO area.

Osteoarthritis: a degenerative disease of the joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting an estimated 27 million individuals in the United States. While it presents differently in different people, common symptoms include stiffness of the joint or joints, pain, and swelling. Your osteoarthritis can affect any part of the joint. Overtime, the cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and bones in the affected joint(s) can wear down.

Peer-reviewed sources highly recommend physical therapy as a treatment for osteoarthritis. Patients in Portage Des Sioux, MO with osteoarthritis benefit from an arthritis treatment plan that includes physical therapy, targeted joint exercises, lifestyle modifications, and education.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: an autoimmune inflammatory disease. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints, gradually moving farther to damage the bone and ligaments in the joints over time. Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the body in a symmetrical fashion, such as in both knees or both wrists. Your rheumatoid arthritis can also present other symptoms outside of joint pain and stiffness, such as whole-body weakness 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. Once we know what your goal is, we will design an arthritis treatment plan in Portage Des Sioux, MO that addresses that goal and measure indicators of your disease over time.

Arthritis Treatment Methods

Everyone has their own way of processing receiving a diagnosis like arthritis. It can certainly be painful and difficult to find out that you may be living with irreversible joint damage. It is vital that you act quickly and seek arthritis treatment in Portage Des Sioux, MO as soon as possible after you have been diagnosed to slow 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 best possible arthritis treatment for your condition and needs. With a sound arthritis treatment team in Portage Des Sioux, MO and early education about your disease and how to care for yourself, you have the power to make an impact on your arthritis — slowing down permanent degeneration, improving your mobility, and reducing pain.

The best arthritis treatment method for you is decided based primarily on the type of arthritis you have and any other health conditions or complications you might have. Usually, an arthritis treatment plan consists of one or more of the following:

Medication. You may benefit from the use of NSAIDs, topical counterirritants, steroids, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Each medication comes with its own amount of risk involved and the potential for negative side effects. Some of these medications are largely meant to address the symptoms of your arthritis, though steroid injections and DMARDs can actually stunt your disease progression.
Physical or Occupational Therapy. Ample peer-reviewed studies show that moderate, low-impact activity promotes joint heath and is instrumental to managing arthritis. Your Portage Des Sioux, MO physical and/or occupational therapy arthritis treatment will be a comprehensive plan made up of several modalities and hands-on therapies in addition to education, exercises to do at home, lifestyle modifications, and assistive devices. Physical therapy is a non-invasive, customized approach and presents minimal risk for most patients.
Surgery. Surgery is usually used for arthritis patients when other forms of arthritis treatment have been unsuccessful. Your Portage Des Sioux, MO arthritis treatment team of medical professionals has a responsibility to explore and make you aware of all of the benefits and potential complications of undergoing a surgical operation. Surgical procedures for arthritis include synovectomy, joint repair, joint replacement, and joint fusion. Your arthritis treatment plan should incorporate physical therapy to help you prepare for and heal from your surgery.

Physical Therapy Arthritis Treatment in Portage Des Sioux, MO

Physical therapy is a medical discipline concerned with the musculoskeletal disorders and movement health. A physical therapist’s goal is to improve the quality of life of their patients by employing a combination of safe, proven treatment methods. The Portage Des Sioux, MO physical therapists of Axes Physical Therapy improve the lives of patients of all walks of life. We see individuals of a wide range of ages, genders, fitness levels, socioeconomic backgrounds, and medical diagnoses, including different types of arthritis.

At Axes Physical Therapy in Portage Des Sioux, MO, you will be matched with a movement specialist with experience treating arthritis for Portage Des Sioux, MO patients. Your dedicated physical therapist will develop a personalized arthritis treatment plan that targets your specific needs. We will work closely with you and with the other medical providers on your arthritis treatment team to select the appropriate physical therapy treatment modalities, supplemental exercises and education, and modifications to your environment to help you remain independent and free from pain.

Along with the various modalities your Portage Des Sioux, MO physical therapist will use to target your arthritis symptoms or slow the progression of the disease, education is another critical piece of the arthritis treatment puzzle. As movement health experts who specialist in the musculoskeletal system, your arthritis treatment physical therapist will guide you to:

Correct posture and gait
Find the right assistive devices such as shoe inserts and braces.
Make adjustments around the house to make household tasks easier
Find the right diet

The Portage Des Sioux, 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:

How can physical therapy arthritis treatment help me?

Ultimately, physical therapy as a treatment for arthritis aims to treat symptoms or keep the disease from progressing. 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 Portage Des Sioux, 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

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 Portage Des Sioux, MO arthritis treatment needs.

What can I do to support my Portage Des Sioux, MO arthritis treatment plan?

The outlook of your Portage Des Sioux, MO arthritis treatment is dependent upon your active participation, including adhering to exercises and changes to your lifestyle your arthritis treatment team prescribes. You must find an arthritis treatment team near Portage Des Sioux, MO that are comfortable with and trust to follow their advice. Some good practices you can implement in your life to support your arthritis treatment plan are:

Stay active
Eat a balanced diet
Reach and/or maintain a healthy weight
Avoid stress
Practice good posture
Practice good sleep hygiene
Make modifications to your home space
Use heat applications
Quit smoking

One of the best things you can do for yourself if you are suffering from a form of arthritis 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 Portage Des Sioux, MO

Get quality arthritis treatment from the leading physical and occupational therapists of the Portage Des Sioux, 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.