Arthritis Physiotherapy

Arthritis Physiotherapy Caringbah:

Arthritis refers to a group of conditions that can cause damage to the joints, this damage is often felt as pain or stiffness. Arthritis can cause pain, stiffness or reduced motion in a joint, swelling and redness or warmth in a joint. With over a hundred different types of arthritis which affect young to old, and approximately 4 million people currently living with arthritis in Australia, it is one of the most common joint problems encountered.  Arthritis typically affects the small joints such as fingers, hands, feet and ankles first then may progress to other areas and cause pain in the back, shoulders and knees. Two of the most common forms of arthritis include

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
 

Arthritis can cause pain, stiffness or reduced motion in a joint, swelling and redness or warmth in a joint.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is caused by gradual cartilage degradation over time due to “wear and tear” on your joints. Pain and stiffness due to osteoarthritis typically affects joints in the knees, hips, fingers and big toe. Risk factors for developing osteoarthritis include a family history of OA, being overweight, previous injury to a joint(s), a job that put heavy loads on the knees and hips or required repetitive tasks with the hands. Whilst there is no “cure” for osteoarthritis, there are a number of treatment options to reduce pain and increase function. These include, starting an exercise program developed by your physiotherapist to assist in strengthening the muscles around the affected joints, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, speaking with your doctor about adequate pain-relief and continuing to live an active life. 

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Rheumatoid Arthritis causes joint inflammation and pain due to an faulty immune response, causing the immune system to attack the healthy synovium lining joints. It typically affects small joints such as fingers, ankles and toes but can have further health effects such as irritation in the eyes, mouth and skin. Physiotherapy can help Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers manage their pain and return flexibility to joints, physiotherapy also is great exercise which can help minimise health complications from a less active lifestyle as a result of pain.

 

Due to arthritis’s varied nature Fit and Flow Physiotherapy Caringbah understand how important it is to tailor your treatment plan to your individual symptoms.

Due to arthritis’s varied nature Fit and Flow Physiotherapy Caringbah understand how important it is to tailor your treatment plan to your individual symptoms.  At Fit and Flow Physiotherapy Caringbah, our team of professionals can help you manage your pain and help you return flexibility back to your joints affected, reducing your risk of further health complications due to arthritis. If you are unsure about your arthritis you can fill out our Injury Form and one of our experts will get back to you about how physiotherapy can manage your arthritis. 

About Fit and Flow

Extensive experience in musculoskeletal and sports injuries, adolescent injuries, pre and post-natal physiotherapy, women's health and surgical rehabilitation provided from expert Physiotherapists in Caringbah.

Tell us more about your injury

Tell our Carngbah Physiotherapists more about your injury. Not sure whether our physiotherapy clinic in the Sutherland Shire can help with your current injury or limitation? Fill out the questionnaire with some background information and we can contact you about your specific injury!