Arthritis is a disabling condition that impacts millions of people globally.  As our population ages, we expect that the incidence of arthritis will increase.  

  • More than 350 million people have arthritis globally (Global RA Network, 2021).
  • In the United States, 1 in 4 adults has arthritis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). 
  • In Canada, 14.6 million people are affected by this disease.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of the joints, such as the knees, knuckles, wrists, or ankles. Arthritis starts as joint inflammation but can progress into joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis that someone can be diagnosed with, but the two most common types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.  This is a condition that can make every day tasks difficult, from walking, to climbing stairs, to sleeping and exercising.

Arthritis is typically diagnosed after a series of physical exams, blood tests, and X-rays. Doctors will look for physical symptoms of arthritis and then run tests to determine what kind of arthritis someone has. X-rays can diagnose osteoarthritis and check for abnormalities like bone spurs, while blood tests can check for antibodies that indicate other kinds of arthritis. 

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The 2 most common forms of arthritis are:

  • Osteoarthritis. This is the most common type of arthritis. It is a chronic disease of the joints, especially the weight-bearing joints of the knee, hip, and spine. It destroys the coating on the ends of bones (cartilage) and narrows the joint space. It can also cause bone overgrowth, bone spurs, and reduced function. It occurs in most people as they age. It may also occur in young people because of an injury or overuse.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis. This is an inflammatory disease of the joint linings. The inflammation may affect all of the joints. It can also affect organs such as the heart or lungs.

How is Arthritis treated?

Short-term treatments include:

  • Medications. Short-term relief for pain and inflammation may include pain relievers such as acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
  • Heat and cold. Pain may be eased by using moist heat (warm bath or shower) or dry heat (heating pad) on the joint. Pain and swelling may be eased with cold (ice pack wrapped in a towel) on the joint.
  • Joint immobilization. The use of a splint or brace can help a joint rest and protect it from further injury.
  • Massage. The light massage of painful muscles may increase blood flow and bring warmth to the muscle.
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Pain may be reduced with the use of a TENS device. The device sends mild, electrical pulses to nerve endings in the painful area. This blocks pain signals to the brain and changes pain perception.
  • Acupuncture. This is the use of thin needles that are inserted at specific points in the body. It may stimulate the release of natural, pain-relieving chemicals made by the nervous system. The procedure is done by a licensed health care provider.
  • Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy is a safe and natural treatment that helps lower your risk of disability. Physiotherapists will assess your movement and help you understand the condition of your joints and muscles; it may seem counterintuitive but by increasing movement, joint health is improved. Understanding arthritis helps you manage its symptoms. The physiotherapist will provide you with a customized treatment plan for long-term pain relief, along with your prescribed medications.  A physiotherapy treatment program for arthritis involves strengthening exercises for muscles surrounding the joints. This stimulates the joints to heal and prevent the pain naturally without pain medications.

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Long-term treatments include:

  • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These prescription medications may slow down the disease and treat any immune system problems linked to the disease. Examples of these medications include methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, and chlorambucil.
  • Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and swelling. These medications, such as prednisone, can be taken orally or as an injection.
  • Hyaluronic acid therapy. This is a joint fluid that appears to break down in people with osteoarthritis. It can be injected into a joint, such as the knee, to help relieve symptoms.
  • Surgery. There are many types of surgery, depending on which joints are affected. Surgery options may include arthroscopy, fusion, or joint replacement. Full recovery after surgery takes up to 6 months. 

Discover what we can do for you at our physiotherapy clinic!

Don’t wait while you’re in pain, request an appointment today at The Health First Group.