Ashlyn Blank
Dr. Glumac
11-26-12
Physical Therapy and Arthritis
Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint. The pain of arthritis can be decreased by physical
therapy. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. They
both cause joint injury and physical disability. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in bony
enlargements of joints and there are few signs of inflammation. Patients with this type of arthritis
have intense inflammation of a synovial joint and the joint is warm and swollen4.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition that involves the synovial joints of the
body. The diagnosis of this type of arthritis can vary depending on clinical features and
investigations1. In order to treat this, it is very important to have an early diagnosis. Even with
therapy, the disease needs to remain under control. If it is not, the development agents will be
spurred and they will target immune mediators that are involved with the disease process3.
Osteoarthritis occurs between one and two persons out of three over the age of forty. It is
the second leading cause of disability in the United States in people over the age of fifty. This
disease has a large variety of the level of severity. Most of the time, osteoarthritis has few
symptoms. Patients with osteoarthritis develop disabilities that interfere with their work or
lifestyle4.
Acetaminoplien is used in treating arthritis. Reiter’s syndrome is also like arthritis. It is
the inflammation of a joint that occurs because of a reaction to an infection in another area of the
body. The symptoms include pain, swelling, redness, and warmth around the joint that has
Reiter’s syndrome. Some other symptoms may include “inflammation of the urinary tract and
inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids, fever, weight loss, lower back pain and heel
pain. Reiter’s syndrome develops by following certain bacterial infections such as Chlamydia,
Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, and Campylobacter” 4.
To treat arthritis, physical therapists have the patients to exercises to stretch and flex their
joints. They do strength exercises as well as conditioning exercises. Heat, ice, and massage are
also used to treat arthritis. Therapeutic massage reduces symptoms in patients who have chronic
pain6.
In conclusion, the two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid
arthritis. Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint. Exercise, heat, ice, and massage are used to treat
patients with arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition that involves the synovial
joints of the body. Osteoarthritis occurs between one and two persons out of three over the age of
forty and it is the second leading cause of disability in the United States in people over the age of
fifty.
Bibliography
1. Firth, J. Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis and multidisciplinary management.
2. British Journal of Nursing. October 27, 2011; 20(18): 1179-1185. Available
from: CINAHL, Mont Alto, PA. Accessed October 1, 2012.
3. Klippel, John H. All You Need to Know about Joint Surgery: Preparing for
Surgery, Recovery and an Active New Lifestyle. Atlanta, GA: Arthritis
Foundation, 2002. Print.
4. Pavelka, K., Kavanaugh, AF., Rubbert-Roth A., Ferracoili G. Optimizing
outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis patients with inadequate responses to
disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
5. Singleton, Mary C., and Eleanor F. Branch. Physical Therapy and the Arthritis
Patient: Clinical Aspects and Approaches to Management. New York:
Haworth, 1988. Print. Available from: Penn State Scranton. Accessed November 12,
2012.
6. Walker, M, Helewa, A, cds. Physical Therapy in Arthritis. Philadelphia, PA:
Saunders; 1996.
7. WebMD. (2012). Physical and Occupational Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis. WebMD.
Retrieved November 25, 2012. From
http://www.easybib.com/reference/guide/apa/website.