Five Ways to Manage Arthritis Pain — Without Surgery
Donna is one of the 53.2 million Americans living with arthritis. Until recently, she was also one of the many arthritis patients who weren’t physically active due to their symptoms. The persistent pain in her knee kept her from hobbies she’d always enjoyed, but now she loves to garden and explore local walking trails with her friends. And she didn’t even have to undergo surgery!
What changed? The answer is simple: Donna visited the team at Kleinpeter Physical Therapy. We helped her understand her condition, including the fact that staying sedentary was making her symptoms worse. We also created a customized treatment plan to help her manage her pain, get active, and get back to the life she wanted to live.
Whether you’re living with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or another inflammatory joint condition, we’ll work hard to find a solution that meets your needs. All you need to do to get started is call to schedule an appointment.
In the meantime, check out these five suggestions for managing arthritis pain from our physical therapists.
How to Manage Arthritis Symptoms (Without Drugs or Surgery)
1. Stay Active:
Getting enough exercise is one of the best things you can do to manage your arthritis symptoms. If you have osteoarthritis, this might be a surprise since OA pains often occur when you move the joint. Fortunately, our physical therapists can help you find low-impact exercises that won’t put extra pressure on your joints.
2. But Don’t Forget to Rest:
While physical activity is crucial in managing arthritis, you need to be careful not to overdo things. Striking a balance between more intense activities (like weightlifting) and periods of active recovery (like walking) will help keep your joints happy.
3. Eat a Healthy Diet:
Swapping out ultra-processed foods for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help control the inflammation that contributes to arthritis symptoms.
4. Find a Pain Management Strategy:
You don’t have to depend on pain medication to manage your symptoms. Self-massage techniques, hot and cold therapy, and gentle stretches can all help reduce pain levels. Our therapists can provide suggestions!
5. Get Organized:
To maximize your treatment from our physical therapists, keep careful track of your symptoms. When do you feel pain? Where do you feel pain? Do you have any mobility restrictions? How would you describe your pain level? This information will help us create the best possible treatment plan for your needs.
But Don’t Forget to Visit Kleinpeter Physical Therapy, Either!
As musculoskeletal experts, our team of physical therapists can give you the expert guidance you need to address your arthritis symptoms. We offer two main benefits: additional pain management techniques and customized, guided exercise programs.
How We Help Manage Pain
In addition to showing you self-management options, we offer several pain management approaches in our clinic.
Manual therapy techniques, such as joint mobilizations or soft tissue manipulation, help reduce pain, promote blood circulation, and improve mobility restrictions. We often kick off sessions with a round of manual therapy to help prepare your body for exercise.
Depending on your needs, we might also suggest other pain-relieving modalities, such as ultrasound therapy or electrical stimulation.
How We Help You Exercise Smarter
When managing arthritis pain, pretty much any low-impact exercise will do wonders. However, targeted exercise also plays an important role in addressing pain.
For example, mobility exercises will help improve your joint’s range of motion, making movement easier overall. Targeted strength training focuses on improving the strength of the muscles surrounding your impacted joint, which helps support and stabilize it, helping to minimize pain.
We can also help you get started with a general exercise program. If you’ve been inactive for a while, starting slowly is essential to avoiding injury. We can provide suggested exercises and durations based on your health history and activity level.
Finally, if your arthritis is in a weight-bearing joint (such as your hip or knee), it’s important that you improve your balance to minimize your fall risk — and we can help with that, too!
Call Us Today
No matter your specific needs, Kleinpeter Physical Therapy is here to help you manage your arthritis symptoms. From personalized guidance to targeted exercise programs, we’ll find solutions that work for you.
Call us to schedule your initial consultation.
Bounce Back Strong with Physical Therapy
Don’t let pain dictate your life’s story. Reach out to Kleinpeter Physical Therapy to learn how physical therapy can be the first step towards a pain-free life!
Maximizing Summer Fitness: Tips from Kleinpeter Physical Therapy
Getting active during the summer can be both fun and challenging, but by following our physical therapist’s tips, you can make the most of this season.
- Get an Assessment: Consider a comprehensive assessment by one of our skilled therapists to identify any underlying issues or areas of concern. This will help you tailor an exercise plan that suits your specific needs while minimizing the risk of injuries.
- Warm-up and Cool Down: Remember to do proper warm-ups and cool-downs for every activity. One of our Kleinpeter Physical Therapy experts can guide you through dynamic stretching routines that prepare your muscles for exercise and help prevent strains.
- Stay Hydrated: Hydration is essential for your health and well-being, and your therapist can recommend simple strategies to ensure you get enough fluids to keep you energized and prevent heat-related issues.
- Trust Your Body: Listen to your body, never ignore or push through pain. If you experience pain or discomfort, consult your physical therapist promptly to address any potential concerns.
With these expert tips, you can enjoy an active and injury-free summer!
Anti-Inflammatory Quinoa Salad
Nutrition plays a key role in managing inflammation. Try this delicious recipe packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients!
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups water or vegetable broth
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil (rich in Omega-3s )
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp turmeric (powerful anti-inflammatory)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring water or broth to a boil. Add quinoa, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed.
- Remove from heat, let sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let cool.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled quinoa, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and parsley.
- Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, turmeric, salt, and pepper.
- Pour dressing over the salad, toss well, and chill for 30 minutes before serving.
June Word Scramble
brerireastws
aaointcv
unesecnsr
emrmus
dnelomea
iaordungta
Answer Key
strawberries
vacation
sunscreen
summer
lemonade
graduation
Direct Access
Did You Know You Have Direct Access To Physical Therapy?
Whether you want to come in for a check-up, suffered a recent injury, or want to improve your health, a physician referral is not needed. In the state of Louisiana, you have direct access to physical therapy!
You have the power to choose. Just as you can fill a prescription for medication at a pharmacy of your choice, you can choose where to receive physical therapy as well.
Taking care of yourself means taking charge of your healthcare, so remember that regardless of which physician you see, you have a choice when it comes to physical therapy.
Minor aches and pains are warning signals from your body to let you know something is not working properly. Don’t put off the pain until it’s too late. Come in today for a “Tune-Up.”
Exercise of the Month
HEEL SLIDES LONG SIT
Start by sitting on the floor with both legs extended out in front of you and your back flat. Loop a strap around your foot on your injured leg and place a towel under your heel. Slowly pull your heel toward your butt by tugging on the strap until you have reached your max comfortable range of motion. Slowly allow your heel to slide back out until your leg is straight.
3 Sets, 10 Reps. (Materials needed: towel, belt)
Patient Success Story!
“Kleinpeter Physical Therapy is an excellent team of PTs, PTAs, and techs! They use innovative practices that prepared me for two surgeries (strengthening my body and also mental preparations). After surgery, they played a substantial role in my complete healing. I had no complications from either surgery, and I attribute that to the care the Kleinpeter team took to understand what I needed to completely heal.
Before surgery, they taught me how to advocate for myself and how to articulate my signs and symptoms to my surgeon. I recommend them 10/10! Whether you need surgery or not, you should consider consulting with their team to understand your body and how it should heal if you have concerns.”
-Amanda P.
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Our purpose at Kleinpeter Physical Therapy is to leave a greater impact on the community around us. In order to achieve our goal we want to change as many lives as possible as we become a beacon of positivity in our community.
