There are many injuries and medical conditions that physical therapy can help treat. Arthritis is a group of conditions that affect the joints, and these conditions can be treated with physical therapy. In fact, there are two types of arthritis that our Border Therapy Services physical therapists can treat in El Paso, Texas.
1. Osteoarthritis
When most people think about arthritis, osteoarthritis is likely the type of arthritis they’re thinking of. This condition is a natural result of aging, and it’s essentially the wearing away of joint cartilage over time. Other issues can also speed up the development of osteoarthritis. For instance, joint injuries can speed up the breaking down of cartilage. Also, infections can increase your likelihood of early-onset osteoarthritis.
As osteoarthritis develops and joint cartilage is worn away, several common symptoms can develop. For one thing, you may begin to feel pain in your joints. Your joints may also become inflamed and swollen. Additionally, you may experience joint stiffness, reduced range of motion and tenderness around the joint.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis
Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis isn’t a natural process related to aging. In fact, this type of arthritis is an autoimmune condition, and it’s caused by your immune system mistakenly attacking the lining of your joints. This means that rheumatoid arthritis will occur in every joint, which isn’t the case with osteoarthritis. Also, rheumatoid arthritis can affect other areas of the body besides the joints, which includes body structures like your heart, skin and lungs.
Some of the symptoms of this form of arthritis are similar to those of osteoarthritis. For example, your joints may become inflamed or swollen. Joint stiffness is also common with rheumatoid arthritis, and it may be worse when you first wake up or when you haven’t moved in a while. Pain is also a common symptom of this type of arthritis. However, rheumatoid arthritis can also cause fatigue, fever and loss of appetite.
Find physical therapy for these two types of arthritis at Border Therapy Services
Border Therapy Services is proud to have nine clinics located in El Paso and Horizon City, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, and this includes a clinic off Hondo Pass Drive in El Paso. If you live in this area, our team is ready and willing to help treat your arthritis. In fact, we offer personalized arthritis treatment plans that may include therapy methods such as:
- Electrical stimulation
- Therapeutic stretches
- Manual therapy
- Targeted strengthening exercises
- Aquatic therapy
Take the next step to find the physical therapy you need for arthritis in El Paso. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.