Role of Physiotherapy in treating Osteoarthritis
It Aims to reduce pain and improves function.
Used modalities for treating osteoarthritis include:
Patient should be instructed about joint protection and energy conservation techniques
- Exercises (Weight management training, Stretching and strengthening exercises, ROM exercises)
- Massages: can help reduce muscle tension and promote good circulation.
- Gravity eliminating exercises such as water aerobics and recumbent cycles
- Providing patients with walking aids and proper footwear
- Electrotherapy
- Thermal therapy
- Hydrotherapy: It utilizes water to treat arthritis. Specialized exercises are performed inside water with a temperature range of 33-36 °C . Physiotherapists guide the patients with specific exercises such as stretching, aerobics, and strengthening exercises.
- Manual therapy is another approach wherein physiotherapists use hands-on techniques to relieve pain and stiffness.
- Other approaches such as acupuncture (dry needling)
Precautions:
- Older adults may have hypothesia as a result of DM or previous stroke making thermal therapy.
- Postoperative rehabilitation following arthroplasty or joint replacement
- During acute inflammation
Role of Physiotherapy in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Clinical assessment: The assessment majorly involves evaluation of the gait, daily life activities, range of joint motion, muscle strength test, posture, and respiratory function. Afterwards, they use the arthritis impact measurement scale I & II and health assessment questionnaire for a precise assessment.
- Hot/Cold therapy is used in both acute and chronic conditions of RA. Cold packs are usually applied in patients suffering from acute conditions, and hot therapy is applied at chronic stage of RA. Hot packs are usually applied for 10-20 mins once or twice daily. For cold therapy, application modalities are cold packs, ice, nitrogen spray, and cryotherapy.
- Electrical Stimulation-Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy is the most common form of electrotherapy used to treat RA. Studies have reported that patients experience less pain after receiving TENS therapy once a week for approximately a month.
- Hydrotherapy-Patients get relief from RA if hydrotherapy is performed at regular intervals. This technique provides palliative treatment in case of acute and chronic conditions.
