Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful condition that causes swelling and soreness in your joints. This form of arthritis is an autoimmune disease, in which your body's immune system recognizes your healthy tissue as a dangerous foreign invader. Your immune system becomes exhausted from attacks on areas of your body, causing chronic pain in affected joints and exhaustion. If you have symptoms from rheumatoid arthritis, a physical therapist may implement several methods to help ease pain.
Hot and Cold Therapy
Heat therapy helps your body's healing process by increasing the circulation of blood to the affected area, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the area of the body you are experiencing painful symptoms from rheumatoid arthritis. Heat therapy may be implemented by your physical therapist through the use of hot compresses. Similarly, cold therapy is implemented by the placement of ice packs or cold compresses on the affected area. Cold therapy reduces circulation to the area and reduces painful inflammation in joints.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage may be administered by your physical therapist to the areas near the affected joints or to the muscles directly linked to the joint. Massage techniques relieve stress in the body and relax tense muscles caused by stress and pain. Massage may not be administered directly to the affected joint to avoid further pain in the area. Your physical therapist may choose to use hot and cold therapy during the massage for better results and relaxation.
Low-Impact Aerobic Exercise
If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, you may experience mild to severe depression due to your pain and suffering. Exercise reduces stress, elevates your mood and helps with depression. Your physical therapist may suggest low levels of low-impact aerobic exercise to boost your mood and build your physical strength. Examples of aerobic exercise that may be suggested by your physical therapist include low intensity bicycling and aerobic walking.
Water Exercise
Water exercise is another form of low-impact exercise that is easy on your joints. Your physical therapist may recommend strength training with water weights or aerobic exercise in the pool. Walking in water creates a low-intensity resistance that provides beneficial aerobic exercise. You may consider joining a beginner's water aerobics class at a local swimming pool or fitness center to help learn the basics of water exercise.
