5 Tips to Combat Arthritis

Healthy Aging


5 Tips To Combat Arthritis - December 21, 2020

If you have symptoms of arthritis, know a friend or family member who does, or want to learn how to prevent this terrible condition, today's article should prove to be very helpful.

For many people, especially the elderly, arthritis is a debilitating illness as it causes inflammation around a joint that can lead to stiffness & pain.

While there are conventional medical treatments that can help, many wonder what can be done along with medication to reduce the effects of arthritis. In fact, there are many natural methods to help manage pain & improve mobility.

This article will show you 5 different alternative therapies & treatments that can help you manage your daily arthritis symptoms & mobility problems.

Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy can be a fantastic treatment for those suffering from arthritis. It involves gentle exercises in a warm pool, which allows muscles loosen & relax. With hydrotherapy, participants will see improved range of motion & flexibility without any impact on their painful joints. In some cases hydrotherapy can be considered a form of physical therapy and may even be covered by insurance!

Weight Loss
As arthritis makes it difficult to stay active, many patients carry excess body weight. This weight increases pressure & stress on their joint, leading to pain & decreased mobility. This unfortunately can become a never ending cycle of pain & immobility.

The Mayo Clinic recommends that if you have arthritis, you try to maintain a healthy body weight. This can be a accomplished through proper diet & regular exercise, which can be a very daunting task for many.

A nutritionist can help you start a healthy diet if you are unsure where to begin. The nutritionist may also provide ideas for foods that can help decrease inflammation in the body & reduce pain from your arthritis.  It can also be very helpful to see a kinesiologist to help you start a gentle exercise program to help you find the right exercises & motivate you to stay active.

Hot & Cold Therapy
This type of therapy simply involves the application of heat and/or cold to the painful areas. The greatest benefit of hot & cold therapy is that it can be performed at home and is typically quite inexpensive. You can switch between heating pads + cold packs or alternate between hot & cold water showers. You may find that some days cold works the best on your arthritic joints, while other days heat may provide more relief. Having both accessible is going to be best way to ensure that this form of therapy is effective at increasing your mobility & decreasing your pain.

Massage
The arthritis foundation notes that one of the most beneficial treatments for mobility in arthritis patients is massage therapy. Massage can help increase range of motion simply by relieving tension on stiff muscles and ligaments that surround the arthritic joints.

The best types of massage for people with arthritis are either deep tissue massage or Swedish massage. If you have severe arthritic pain, deep tissue massage may be difficult to tolerate because of how deep into the muscle the massage therapist will go. Either way, massage therapy is an easily accessible treatment to help increase your range of motion when you have arthritis. We know of many great registered massage therapists in the area, so please let us know if you are looking to be referred to one!

Range of Motion Exercises
Many arthritis patients keep their affected joints in tightened positions to manage pain. Unfortunately, this has the unintended side effect of increasing pain & stiffness because it shortens ligaments & muscles around the affected joint.

It is highly recommended that all arthritis sufferers participate in range of motion exercises to improve & maintain joint mobility. This typically includes stretching & moving the joints to their full abilities. Some range of motion activities may include yoga, tai chi, or a proper exercise program designed by a kinesiologist.


While arthritis may not fully go away no matter how well you take care of your body, you can absolutely manage your symptoms and reduce the progression of the disease. If you combine medication with these holistic approaches to treatment, you are guaranteed to have a happier & pain-free life.

Hopefully this article was valuable to you and has given you some new hope in combating arthritis. Below you will find a gentle movement routine lead by Taylor the Kinesiologist to help you stay mobile.
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