Arthritis & Joint Pain
Arthritis causes joint pain and stiffness, most often osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear kind, in the knees, hips, hands and spine. The right exercise does not wear joints out faster. It is one of the most effective treatments, and it can help people delay joint replacement or prepare for it. PAR Physical Therapy treats arthritis in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
Request an Appointment Call Myrtle Beach Call Murrells Inlet
Osteoarthritis vs. rheumatoid arthritis
Both cause joint pain and stiff joints, for different reasons.
Osteoarthritis
Cartilage wears down and the joint changes. Pain builds with use and eases with rest, and stiffness is brief in the morning.
Rheumatoid arthritis
An immune condition that inflames the joints, often both sides, with longer morning stiffness and flares. Rheumatoid arthritis physical therapy works with your rheumatologist.
PT in both
Keep motion, build strength around the joint, protect it and pace activity.
Why exercise helps arthritis instead of hurting it
Joints get their nutrition from movement. Strong muscles take load off a painful joint, so arthritis exercise is treatment, not a risk. "Bone on bone" on an X-ray does not predict how much you can do. Many people with severe-looking X-rays move well once they are stronger. We build that gradually and adjust when a joint flares.
Arthritis in the knee, hip, hand and spine
Knee arthritis
Pain on stairs and after sitting. See Knee Pain.
Hip arthritis
Groin pain and stiffness putting on shoes. See Hip Pain.
Hand and thumb
Pain with gripping and pinching. See hand and wrist pain.
Spine
Stiffness and aching in the back. See Back Pain. We also treat shoulder arthritis.
How we treat joint pain
Treatment is a plan, not a single technique.
- Therapeutic exercise and strengthening, plus weight-bearing exercise for the bones
- Joint mobilization to ease stiffness, with ice, heat, ultrasound or electrical stimulation if pain needs calming
- Gait training and help with walking aids and assistive devices
- Activity changes, so you can do what you love with less pain
- A digital home exercise program
Delaying surgery, and getting ready for a joint replacement
Strength and motion can help some people put off a joint replacement, and we cannot promise it. If surgery is the right call, getting stronger first helps recovery. See post-surgical rehab. For pain that has lasted for years, see Chronic Pain.
Arthritis questions
Can physical therapy help me avoid knee replacement?
It can help you get stronger and move better, and some people feel they can wait. We do not promise it. If you do need surgery, you will go in stronger.
Arthritis care in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet
Call either clinic or request an appointment. Same-day appointments are possible, and we accept most insurance plans.
We see patients in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
Request an Appointment Call Myrtle Beach Call Murrells Inlet