Joint Pain Relief OMaha, Nebraska

If you're suffering from joint pain, you're not alone. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one-third of adults throughout the United States face some form of joint pain.   

If your joint pain keeps you from doing the things you love, it's time to consider physical therapy. PT can help reduce inflammation, ease pain and stiffness, and improve mobility. The following blog post will review the benefits of physical therapy for joint pain and how Omahans can find a qualified therapist to help them. 

There are many causes of joint pain, including:  

• Arthritis - a condition that causes inflammation and pain in the joints. There are many different types of arthritis, each with its own set of symptoms. 
• Bursitis - an inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that cushions and protects joints. It's often caused by repetitive motions or direct trauma to the affected area. 
• Gout is a type of arthritis caused by high uric acid levels in the blood. This can lead to uric crystals forming in the joints, which causes pain and inflammation. 
• Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that often causes inflammation and pain in the joints and other organs in the body. 
• Tendonitis - an inflammation of the tendons, which are the tough cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Repetitive motions or overuse can often be the cause of tendonitis. 
• Injury - a joint can be injured by a fall, overuse, or direct blow, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness. 
• Overuse - repetitive motions or activities can lead to pain and inflammation in the joints. This is a common problem among athletes, office workers, and people who do a lot of manual labor. 
• Rheumatoid arthritis - an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and swelling. 
• Osteoarthritis - a degenerative disease causing cartilage in the joints to break down. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and inflammation. 
• Infection - a joint can become infected after a cut or scrape or from another infection in the body. This infection can cause pain, swelling, and redness in the joint. 
• Osteoporosis - a condition that causes the bones to become thin and brittle. This can lead to pain and fractures in the joints. 

Symptoms of joint pain can vary depending on the cause, but common symptoms include: 

• Pain - a dull ache or sharp pain that may worsen with movement. 
• Swelling - the joint may feel warm to the touch and appear swollen, especially after activity. 
• Redness - the skin around the joint may be red and inflamed. 
• Stiffness - the joint may be stiff and difficult to move, especially in the morning. 
• Limping - you may walk with a limp if the joint pain is severe. 
• Loss of range of motion - you may not be able to move the joint as much as you used to. 
• Weakness - the muscles around the joint may be weak and unable to support the body's weight. 

Many different types of physical therapy can treat joint pain, depending on the cause and severity of the injury. Some common types of PT for joint pain include:  

• Cryotherapy - the affected area is exposed to cold temperatures to reduce inflammation and pain. 
• Electrotherapy - electrical currents stimulate the muscles and help reduce pain and swelling. 
• Manual therapy - the therapist uses their hands to massage the muscles and soft tissues around the joint. 
• Mobilization - the therapist moves the joint through its range of motion to help reduce stiffness. 
• Exercise - the therapist will design an exercise program to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the joint. 
• Heat therapy - the affected area is exposed to heat to reduce pain and stiffness. 
• Ice therapy - the affected area is exposed to cold temperatures to reduce inflammation and pain. 
• Ultrasound therapy - sound waves stimulate blood flow and reduce pain. 
• Stretching - the affected area is extended to help improve range of motion and reduce stiffness. 

A physical therapist can help you manage your joint pain in many ways. A PT can:  

• Evaluate your condition - a PT will assess your symptoms and range of motion to determine the best course of treatment. 
• Develop a treatment plan - based on the evaluation, a PT will develop a treatment plan that may include one or more of the therapies listed above. 
• Teach you exercises - the PT will teach you specific exercises to help improve range of motion and reduce pain. 
• Monitor your progress - the PT will monitor your progress and make changes to the treatment plan as needed. 
• Alleviate pain and enhance function - teach you how to maintain good posture and body mechanics for basic daily activities. 
• Assistive devices - such as walkers and canes, will be shown to be utilized correctly. 
• Recommend different treatment options - these include braces and splints to support joints, shoe inserts to relieve stress on the lower extremities, and hot and cold therapy to ease joint pain and stiffness.  
• Suggest modifications for your environments - such as ergonomic chairs or a cushioned mat in your kitchen, to relieve pain and improve function.  

Regardless of what causes your joint pain, physical therapy can help. PT works by reducing inflammation and improving the range of motion. In addition, physical therapy can help strengthen the muscles around the affected joint, which can help to prevent further injury.   

Physical therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for joint pain. It can help you get back to your normal activities as soon as possible without the use of medication or dangerous prescription drugs.  

At Nebraska Accident and Injury Clinic, we can help you with physical therapy and get you the proper pain relief you deserve. We also offer free injury consultations so that you can learn how physical therapy can help you manage pain safely and effectively.