Physiotherapy (PT) is a branch of medicine that focuses on restoring the mobility and function of injured body parts via the use of different treatments such as manual therapy, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, and patient education and counselling.
Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects the joints that connect the bones. It may present acutely or chronically and is connected with joint inflammation. When individuals with arthritis move, they endure pain, stiffness, and discomfort. Arthritis is classified into two types: osteoarthritis, which happens when the cartilages between joints get destroyed, and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune illness in which the body's immune system attacks its joints.
The primary goal of physical therapy in treating arthritis is to increase joint mobility and reestablish joint function. Physiotherapists are qualified professionals who use various techniques to strengthen afflicted joints.
Osteoarthritis is most often seen in the knees, hips, spine, and fingers. Physical therapy is advised for people with osteoarthritis because it improves patients by increasing physical function and alleviating pain.
Physiotherapists use numerous modalities to treat osteoarthritis, including the following:
Exercises
Electrotherapy
Massages
Providing walking assistance to patients
Physiotherapy as a treatment option for Knee Osteoarthritis entails the following:
Hydrotherapy: This method of treating arthritis makes use of water. Physiotherapists guide patients through particular activities such as stretching, aerobics, and strengthening. Specialized workouts are conducted within water between 33 and 36 degrees Celsius.
Manual therapy is another method used by physiotherapists to alleviate pain and stiffness.
This approach has been demonstrated to be quite beneficial in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
Other techniques, such as acupuncture (dry needling) and thermotherapy, have also shown significant advantages for pain relief.
Physiotherapy as a modality of treatment for hip osteoarthritis:
Because the hip joint carries the body's weight, discomfort in this joint impairs general movement. In such circumstances, PT seeks to increase patients' mobility. Physiotherapists use the following techniques:
Hands-on treatment
Exercises for stretching and strengthening
Training in weight control
Hip joint protection strategies: This strategy entails educating the patient about various joint protection techniques. Patients are advised to avoid lifting large weights and engage in activities that strain the joint. They get gait assistance and are instructed to wear suitable footwear. Physiotherapists educate kids on how to maintain proper posture.
Before beginning therapy, physiotherapists often conduct a physical assessment exam. The examination will primarily focus on locomotion, everyday activities, range of motion, muscular strength, posture, and respiratory function. They then conduct a precise evaluation using the arthritis impact measuring scale I & II and the health assessment questionnaire.
Physiotherapy Treatment Options for Rheumatoid Arthritis
This kind of therapy is mostly composed of the following techniques:
Hot/cold applications—Hot/cold treatment treats rheumatoid arthritis in both acute and chronic forms. Cold packs are often used on patients with acute illnesses, whereas heat treatment is used on people with persistent rheumatoid arthritis. Typically, hot packs are administered 10-20 minutes once or twice daily. Cold packs, ice, nitrogen spray, and cryotherapy are all examples of application techniques for cold treatment.
Electrical Stimulation-Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is the most often utilized kind of electrotherapy in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Patients reported feeling decreased pain after receiving TENS treatment once a week for about a month.
Hydrotherapy- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis benefit from frequent hydrotherapy sessions. This approach is used to offer palliative care for acute and chronic diseases.
Splinting of the afflicted joints, compression gloves, manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and patient education are all standard rehabilitation procedures used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.