How do physical therapists treat arthritis in Saint Peters, MO?

treating arthritis

Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with arthritis. This condition damages the cartilage in your joints, making it painful to move them. 

Arthritis has no cure, but there are treatments that can help reduce the pain and improve your range of motion for a better quality of life. One effective treatment that helps many people with arthritis is physical therapy.

Treating arthritis with physical therapy

Physical therapists have several methods they can use to treat arthritis. If you visit a physical therapist for arthritis treatment, your treatment will likely include:

  • Therapeutic exercise — Physical therapists specialize in guiding people with arthritis through gentle exercises to build the strength of the muscles around the arthritic joints. Stronger muscles provide better structural support for the joints, which reduces joint pressure that makes your pain worse.
  • Stretching — Physical therapists can guide you through stretches that help improve the flexibility of your muscles for a better range of motion.
  • Manual therapy — Manual therapy methods like joint mobilization and soft tissue mobilization can help reduce your pain and improve your range of motion. These techniques involve the use of your physical therapist’s hands to manipulate your joints and tissue in ways you wouldn’t be able to do on your own.
  • Electrical stimulation — Physical therapists can connect electrodes to the skin around the arthritic joint to stimulate the muscles and soft tissue around it. Small bursts of electricity are delivered through the electrodes to force the muscles and tissue to contract and release. This helps reduce tension and can soothe pain. 

Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in Saint Peters, MO, for arthritis treatment

Our physical therapists at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in Saint Peters, Missouri, specialize in these techniques and many more for treating arthritis. Contact our team today for more information about treating arthritis with physical therapy or to schedule an initial appointment.