Exercise and physical therapy may be considered synonymous. Physical therapy is exercise of a specific type. It may be the exercises you are advised to do at home or a routine that your physical therapist does with you at the health centre.

For osteoarthritis, physical therapy is prescribed to help keep the joints flexible, to preserve the strength of muscles on which the joints depend for stability, and to protect diseased joints against further damaging stress. Because osteoarthritis tends to be progressive, physical therapy must be carried on indefinitely. Often physical therapy treatment begins in a hospital or health centre setting and then plans are outlined for patients to do at home, either alone or with the help of another person.

In all types of arthritis the purpose of physical therapy is to help a patient make the best use of remaining abilities and to restore the maximum degree of physical function. With a little effort muscle weakness and loss of normal joint motion can be prevented or corrected.

Components of Your Treatment Plan

Rest, exercise and physical therapy are important components of the treatment plan in arthritis. Sometimes a daily routine of many l0-to-15-minute rest periods helps people who have arthritis. Some plan to rest awhile each day after their at-home exercise sessions. Each individual seems to be able to find the routine that is most convenient and makes him or her most comfortable.

Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis may feel extremely tired at times, and those are the times for additional rest periods and reduction of activities.

All parts of your arthritis treatment plan will interact. In addition to rest and exercise, what you eat is important. Diet in arthritis can help you reduce your weight, which puts extra stress on weight-bearing joints.