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March - April, 1998
ARTHRITIS
Simply crawling out of bed is a task. The muscles feel stiff and may hurt. Joints may be painful. You may be unable to moveabout freely until you have "loosened up." Millions of Americans suffer from this crippling disease, which not only causes pain and despair but may also cause economic ruin as well. And for nearly three million Americans, arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing or bathing.
Arthritis is an inflammation of a joint.
Specifically, osteoarthritis involves deterioration of the joints. The three main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain, joint stiffness or inability to move joint normally, and sometimes swelling, that lasts more than two weeks. The disease seems to be related to wear and tear on the joints from movement over the years.
Usually it strikes those joints that not only bear much body weight, but are also much used, such as the hips, spine, hands, fingers, feet and knees.
Osteoarthritis may become seated in nearly any joint of the body, particularly if the joint has had hard use. However, many things can be done to reduce the impact of arthritis on everyday life. The key is early diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to the needs of each individual. Physicians diagnose arthritis based on the overall pattern of symptoms, medical history (good, tight joints and loose joints are hereditary), physical exam, x-rays and lab tests. Most treatment programs include a combination of medication, exercise, rest use of heat and cold, joint protection techniques, and sometimes surgery.
Aspirin is the most common and effective drug to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in arthritis.
Warm baths, hot packs, heat lamps, and application of hot paraffin are also helpful in reducing joint pain. Exercise is very important to the arthritic, as it helps keep the joints from stiffening. Whenever the joints become tired, the patient should rest. In most cases, the physician can prescribe exercises that the person can perform by himself, but the person with an advanced case may need help with exercising. Contact your physician or physical therapist for some excellent material on exercises for arthritis.
Arthritis sufferers can still strengthen their joints by placing light loads on the joints rather than massive weight lifting. The key to appropriate weight lifting is understanding what amounts your joints can tolerate. A generally bad idea is for the arthritic to work out on a Nautilus machine because it places too much strain on joints.
Isometric exercises such as quad and hamstring sets and straight leg raises are ideal because they ease the load the joint must bear. Aquatic therapy is also beneficial due to the reduced load placed on the joint.
Good posture habits and correctly fitted shoes should also help the person with arthritis. When learning good posture, imagine yourself carrying a glass of water on top of your head; the object being not letting it fall. When lifting, squat, when reaching, turn, your entire body, don't twist.
These habits allow your body to remain in good condition. Arthritis may case a lifetime of pain, disability and hopelessness if it is allowed to get firm grip on your body. However, osteoarthritis is not a crippling disease like rheumatoid arthritis. As long as you exercise and abide by your doctor's orders, your body may be relatively free from pain and the natural shape of your joints and posture may not be destroyed. You may avoid having your once healthy and beautiful body forced into a wheelchair or doubled over like a bent twig.
A victim's life span may not be affected by this disease but certainly the comforts of this life span will be impeded by the pain and aggravation caused by a slowdown of activities so necessary to a joyful existence. Throughout one's life, the practice of maintaining the proper alignment of the joints of the body is the best preventive measure of degenerative arthritis.
For additional information on this subject or for a consultation, please contact Hands-On Physical Therapy in one of our clinics.
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