According to one estimate, there are about 350 million people around the world who are suffering from some form of arthritis. When looking at the local picture, it is estimated that one in five people in the UAE is affected by this problem. Thus, it is not difficult to see why so many people are visiting physiotherapy clinics in Dubai to treat arthritis.
While there are different ways to manage arthritis, you might want to know more about how physiotherapy can help.
What is arthritis?
There are various types of arthritis, but overall, it is an acute or chronic condition involving inflammation of the joints and its surrounding tissues. There are different causes of arthritis, the most common are aging, sedentary lifestyle, injuries, improper diet, and other medical conditions.
How a physiotherapist treats arthritis?
The first thing a physiotherapist do is assess your condition. Sometimes, people visit a physiotherapy clinic due to other chief complaint or seeking neck pain treatment, only to find out that they are suffering as well from arthritis.
A physical therapist can do a physical examination and interview the client. However, he/she would also ask other healthcare professionals to do blood work, X-ray imaging, and other diagnostic tests. Once arthritis is established, the Doctor together with the physiotherapist will then formulate a treatment plan.
There are a few things that a physio will do to alleviate pain and improve your condition. These may include:
- Heat and cold therapy – heat packs can help in relaxing the tense and tired muscles. It also supports healing. On the other hand, cold therapy could help in decreasing pain and preventing further inflammation.
- Use of splints – during a flare-up of your arthritis, splinting can help in preventing further damage to your joint. Splints also immobilize your joint temporarily to avoid interruption of healing.
- TENS – Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation machine is used by physiotherapists to block pain perception and divert the patient’s attention from the pain. A TENS machine include a small electronic device that sends electrical pulses to your nerve endings through small skin patches or pads.
- Massage – massage can be done on the affected area, but the force is only limited to ensure no further injury is produced. For example, in foot physio massage, physiotherapist applies slight pressure over the foot but more force on the leg and thigh. This technique relaxes the body of a patient and can help divert his/her attention from pain.
- Health education – physiotherapists are highly knowledgeable when it comes to taking care of your body and managing arthritis. For this reason, they also have the proper knowledge to provide health education and encourage change in lifestyle.
Working as a team
It is worth noting that physiotherapists communicate with other members of the healthcare team. To effectively manage your arthritis, you would be referred to different medical professionals.
Finding the right physiotherapists
There is no doubt that physiotherapy can help with managing arthritis especially the pain that comes with it. The question now is; which physiotherapist are you going to choose?
Thankfully, you can confidently rely on Scandinavian Physiotherapy Center. They have some of the best physiotherapists who have the right skills, experience, and expertise to diagnose, manage, and treat arthritis.
One good example are their services for neck and back pain treatment. If you are suffering from spinal arthritis that causes stiffness and pain on the back, then Scandinavian Physiotherapy Center is the best choice for you. If you want to learn more, feel free to give them a call today!
Originally Published from http://bit.ly/2KIk5Kc
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