Arthritis Treatment St. Peters, MO

Arthritis Treatment St. Peters, MO. Living with arthritis in St. Peters, 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. Learn more about these and other important pieces of an arthritis treatment plan in St. Peters, 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 positioned to serve the arthritis treatment needs of countless individuals in the St. Peters, MO area and throughout Eastern Missouri. Explore our conveniently located facilities or begin your path to enjoying life to the fullest while living with arthritis by making an appointment request now.

Arthritis Treatment St. Peters, 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 suffer from type of arthritis, and of them, almost half — about 25.7 million — experience significant limitations in their daily life due to their condition. 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 numbers illustrate the reach arthritis has, but , but when it comes to your own condition, your experience is unique. When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for arthritis treatment near you in the St. Peters, MO area, you are not just a number. Our team of St. Peters, MO area physical and occupational therapists 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 St. Peters, MO arthritis treatment, you are assigned a dedicated arthritis treatment therapist who possesses the knowledge and experience needed to to design a treatment plan for you that addresses your goals and fits your lifestyle.

Types of Arthritis

The CDC identifies over one hundred conditions that are grouped under the categorization arthritis. The causes and treatment methods differ from one diagnosis to the next, but all arthritis conditions generally include inflammation and stiffness of the joints. Getting the safest and most effective arthritis treatment in St. Peters, MO for you depends in part on getting an accurate diagnosis and understanding your condition.

There are numerous diagnoses that are considered arthritis, and some are more common than others. Below, we briefly examine the two most common forms of arthritis. By becoming experts on the unique etiology, trajectory, and outlook of each type of arthritis, our St. Peters, MO physical therapists and occupational therapists are able to provide successful treatment for many patients living with many types of arthritis in the St. Peters, MO area.

Osteoarthritis: a degenerative disease of the joints. Osteoarthritis is the most commonly occurring form of arthritis, affecting an estimated 27 million individuals in the United States. While people with the disease may differ in their experience of osteoarthritis, symptoms commonly include joint stiffness, pain, and swelling. Your osteoarthritis can affect any part of the joint. Overtime, the tissue in the cartilage, tendons, and/or bones breakdown over time.

Medical professionals highly recommend physical therapy as a treatment for osteoarthritis. Physical therapy, targeted joint exercises, lifestyle modifications, and education are important for any osteoarthritis treatment plan in St. Peters, MO.

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

The American College of Rheumatology recommends using what is known as the treat-to-target approach for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. In this treatment model, you are treated for the purpose of one of two goals: either eliminating symptoms or lowering disease activity. With your goal in mind, your St. Peters, MO arthritis treatment team will design a plan and measure progress through periodic tests.

Arthritis Treatment Options

Everyone has their own way of reacting to being diagnosed with arthritis. It can certainly be painful and difficult to find out that you could be looking at a future of irreversible joint damage. The progression of your disease depends, in part, on what you do after you’ve been diagnosed. Do not put off getting treatment in St. Peters, MO for your arthritis.

There are many different diseases that fall under the category of arthritis, and many different causes. You may have arthritis due to a genetic trait, an injury, autoimmune reaction, or infection. Regardless of the cause, the key after diagnosis is to act quickly and focus on moving forward with the right arthritis treatment that targets your condition and addresses your needs. With a sound arthritis treatment team in St. Peters, 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, maintaining your mobility, and getting rid of pain.

The most effective arthritis treatment method for you will depend primarily on the type of arthritis you have and your other health characteristics. Usually, an arthritis treatment plan consists of one or more of the following:

Medication. You may benefit from medications such as NSAIDs, counterirritant creams and ointments, steroids, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These medications vary in the amount of risk involved and possible side effects. Some are largely only effective in alleviating the symptoms of your arthritis. Others, like steroid injections and DMARDs can actually slow the progression of your disease.
Physical or Occupational Therapy. Ample peer-reviewed studies show that gentle, low-impact physical activity is beneficial to joints and helps manage arthritis. Your St. Peters, MO physical and/or occupational therapy arthritis treatment will be a comprehensive plan made up of several modalities and manual therapies as well as education, exercises to do at home, guidance on changes to your lifestyle, and assistive devices. Physical therapy is a non-invasive approach that is tailored to the individual and presents little associated risk for most patients.
Surgery. Surgery treatment for arthritis is usually used for arthritis patients whose conditions have not responded to other more conservative arthritis treatment methods. Your St. Peters, MO arthritis treatment team of medical professionals has a responsibility to consider and educate you on all of the benefits and potential complications of undergoing surgery. Surgeries to treat arthritis include synovectomy, joint repair, joint replacement, and joint fusion. If you are a candidate for surgery, your arthritis treatment plan will likely include physical therapy to help you prepare for and heal from your surgery.

Physical Therapy Arthritis Treatment in St. Peters, MO

Physical therapy is a medical discipline concerned with movement health. The job of a physical therapist is to improve the quality of life of their patients by employing a combination of safe, proven treatment methods. The St. Peters, MO physical therapists of Axes Physical Therapy treat patients of all walks of life. We see individuals of a wide range of ages, genders, fitness levels, socioeconomic backgrounds, and medical conditions, including different types of arthritis.

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy in St. Peters, MO, you will work with a movement specialist who has had a career of successfully treating arthritis for St. Peters, MO patients. Your dedicated physical therapist will develop an individualized arthritis treatment plan that meets your exact needs. We will work with you one-on-one and communicate with the other medical providers on your arthritis treatment team to select the appropriate physical therapy treatment modalities, home exercises and education, and modifications to your environment to maintain a life of independence and freedom from pain.

Along with the various modalities your St. Peters, MO physical therapist may employ to treat your arthritis symptoms or minimize the progression of the disease, educating you is another critical part of the arthritis treatment puzzle. As experts in movement health and the musculoskeletal system, your arthritis treatment physical therapist will assist you in accomplishing the following:

Correct posture and gait
Find the right assistive devices such as shoe inserts and braces.
Make adjustments around your home to make your daily activities easier
Change your diet, if necessary

The St. Peters, 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 eliminate 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 number of advantages. When you turn to Axes Physical Therapy for your St. Peters, 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 St. Peters, MO arthritis treatment needs.

What things can I do at home to support my St. Peters, MO arthritis treatment plan?

The success of your St. Peters, MO arthritis treatment requires your active participation, including following through on home exercises and adjustments to your lifestyle your arthritis treatment team prescribes. You must find an arthritis treatment team near St. Peters, 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 environment
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 St. Peters, MO

Come to Axes Physical therapy for the best quality physical therapy arthritis treatment in the St. Peters, MO area. As a part of your arthritis treatment team, you will work closely with a dedicated physical therapist 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.