Physical Therapy and Exercise For Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition that can cause stiffness, pain and swelling in joints and other supporting structures of the body such as bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Some forms of arthritis may affect other parts of the body, including various internal organs. There are many different types of arthritis including osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), rheumatoid arthritis psoriatic arthritis gouty arthritis and septic arthritis Arthritis can affect anyone at any age. Arthritis treatment often includes physical therapy and exercise. Physical therapy and exercise can help arthritis sufferers in many ways. The primary goal is to improve functional capacity to help reduce pain and fatigue associated with daily activities. Increasing the range of motion of a joint is the primary focus of physical therapy.

Physical therapy and exercise for arthritis focuses on pain relief, and in restoring function and movement. Physical therapy programs may provide therapeutic methods, including physical techniques and activity modifications. A physical therapy program consisting of manual therapy and exercise benefits patients with arthritis.

Gentle exercise helps to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis. Lifting weights is a beneficial exercise for arthritis and for joint support. Physical therapy and exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness, builds strong muscle around the joints, and increases flexibility, muscle strength, cardiac fitness, and endurance.

Some of the exercises prescribed for people with arthritis:

o Range-of-motion exercises (stretching or flexibility exercises)
o Strengthening exercises
o Water exercises
o Recreational exercises
o Endurance or aerobic exercises

Physical therapy and exercise helps to:

o Maintain normal joint movement
o Strengthen muscles around the joints
o Strengthen and maintain bone and cartilage tissue
o Improve overall ability to do everyday activities
o Maintain weight to reduce pressure on joints
o Keep bone and cartilage tissue strong and healthy

Depending on the severity of arthritis, a physical therapist may suggest either isometric or isotonic exercises. A combination of manual physical therapy and exercise is more effective to reduce pain, dysfunction and stiffness in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Dog Osteoarthritis Care

Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) is a progressive condition in
which the cartilage in the joint is slowly broken down, and bony changes occur.
Any dog with a developmental or congenital joint problem, like dysplasia or
patella luxation, is more prone to developing osteoarthritis. Dogs who have had
injury to a joint such as a fracture involving the joint or a ruptured anterior
cruciate ligament in the knee will be also more likely to develop DJD.

The signs of osteoarthritis can vary depending up on the joints involved, the
age and size of the dog, and the severity of the disease. In general, the first
signs may be an altered gait, since the dog will try to put more of its weight
on the unaffected limbs. Many times the dog may find it difficult to get up
after lying down or would be unable to jump up into the car or may have
difficulty to go up or down stairs. Depending upon the amount of pain the dog is
experiencing, there may be changes in appetite and behavior. Some dogs will lick
or bite at the area that is painful. Some will seek out warmth or soft places to
sleep.

Some forms of degenerative joint disease can be treated with surgery. For
example, hip replacements in dogs with hip dysplasia are becoming more common.
Other procedures can also be performed, but their success rests upon how many
bony changes have occurred in and around the joint.

Caring for a dog with osteoarthritis requires combating it on many fronts.
These include:

· Weight control and exercise

· Physical therapy

· Prescription anti-inflammatories or non-prescription medication for treatment
of pain and inflammation.

· Other supplements to reduce inflammation, including fatty acid supplements
containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

Beyond these actions, owners of osteoarthritic dogs can make their dogs more
comfortable by providing ramps for steep, and soft but supportive orthopedic

dog bed [http://www.smartpetsupply.com/dog-bed.html]. For dogs with arthritis in the back or neck,

dog sweaters [http://www.smartpetsupply.com/dog-sweater.html] or dog jackets may help, especially in colder climates. These
dogs can also benefit from elevated feeders. Making day-to-day activities less
painful for your pet dog will help you feel good, too.

How To Relieve Back Pain Using Lower Back Exercises

Whilst the short answer is - loosen off tight hamstring, buttock and hip flexor muscles and embark on a serious all round body strengthening program - the longer answer may provide you with a better understanding of why you need to do these exercises to relieve back pain.

A few weeks ago I unsubscribed from a medically-oriented back pain forum because I thought that most of the information supplied by regular writers was unhelpful.

In answer to the question, 'What's the cause of back pain?' most of the correspondents made statements like this one:

'... there is a central disc protrusion with a focul annular tear... facet joint arthropathy and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy... there is a disc bulge which is paracentral to the left side and extended in to the foramen and far laterally... there is mild crowding of the cauda equine... .

Whilst it's all well and good to know what's going on in your back, we need to go back a stage and find out what has caused the 'central disc protrusion with a focul annular tear... facet joint arthropathy, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy... and disc bulge.'

Few people in the medical industry know where to look.

An X-ray is useless. It just tells you what's happened. It doesn't tell you why it's happened.

Neither will the radiologist nor the doctor tell you that you've generated the problem yourself. The incident that brought the problem to a head - lifting a bag of groceries into your car, digging in the garden, sneezing... will get the blame, but we all know that normal healthy human beings are designed to put groceries into cars, dig the garden and sneeze without collapsing in a screaming heap.

It's highly likely that what's happened over the weeks, months, years and decades, as muscles have gradually tightened and become weaker, bones have moved out of alignment. That's why it's a personally generated dysfunction. It's why rubbing, crunching, heating and vibrating the spot where it hurts isn't going to lead to the permanent restoration of poor function to good. These activities are not related to what really needs to be done.

And when bones are out of alignment it only takes an incident of minor proportion to tip you over the edge into 'central disc protrusion with a focul annular tear... facet joint arthropathy, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy... and disc bulge' territory.

Q. So what is the underlying cause of a high proportion of back pain?

A. Vertebrae that are out of alignment.

Q. Why are vertebrae out of alignment?

A. Usually because the pelvis is out of alignment.

Q. Why is the pelvis out of alignment?

A. Because tight muscles - usually hamstring, buttock and hip flexor have pulled it out of alignment.

Q. Why are these muscles tight?

A. Tight muscles come with decades of sitting down for long periods of time, often with a poor posture - and without a flexibility training program. Just doing a few yoga exercises every couple of days would be enough to stop it from happening.

Unfortunately, most therapists will get straight to work rubbing, crunching, heating and vibrating at the spot where it's painful and forget to give you a good flexibility training program for the muscles further down the body that are causing the problem.

Plus people get a warm feeling in their singlet when they've been rubbed, crunched, heated and vibrated. It feels like it must be doing them good. They love someone to do something to them, even if they're better off doing something to themselves.

A physio might get you to do the cobra yoga pose (masquerading as the McKenzie exercise). The doctor might tell you to lie on your bed and bring your knees up to your chest. Both exercises are useful but miss the point, which is focusing on loosening of hamstring, buttock and hip flexor muscles.

So when it comes to lower back exercises always keep in mind that the underlying cause of the pain it rarely located at the site of the pain. You need to loosen off hamstring, buttock and hip flexor muscles.

You also need a good, all round body strengthening program - situps, pressups, squats and the Superman back arch. You can do that at home.

If you go to a gym three times a week and spend 40 minutes pushing and pulling weights, so much the better.

In the meantime stay tuned, highly tuned and remember that when it comes to lower back exercises, the key ones are those that loosen off tight hamstring, buttock and hip flexor muscles.

John Miller

Ringing in Your Ears - Symptomatic

A brief ringing in their ears has been experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, the ringing in the ears does not go away for some people even if it typically stops after a few seconds. This condition is called tinnitus. Nonetheless a ringing sensation in the ear can be a symptom of something else

Ringing in the ears maybe symptomatic of anxiety. Anxiety comes with various symptoms. Symptoms are experienced in various ways by people who have anxiety or panic attacks. Certain people experience a ringing in there years at some point though ringing in the ears does not necessarily equate to anxiety. Problems regarding blood pressure can likewise be indicated by ringing in the ears. Higher then normal cholesterol levels results in such. Blood pressure can become erratic as blood forces its way to some of the cholesterol deposits which gather in blood vessels especially around the ears. You should check your cholesterol levels if you are having a ringing sensation in your ears.

Allergies or sinus problems may also be indicated by ringing in the ears. Antibiotics and antihistamines are usually administered to treat these ills. Pressure-build up as well as ear infections and ringing in the ears result from medications that make mucous in the ear difficult for the body to drain. A ringing sensation in the ear can also be caused by conditions such as presbycusis or an age-associated loss of hearing, muscle tension, temporomandibular joint disorder, vitamin B12 deficiency and thyroid disorder.

Tinnitus, which comes in several forms, is the most common cause of ringing in the ears. A rare form of tinnitus is atherosclerosis. The form of tinnitus that causes a ringing in the ear that only the individual hears is what most people are afflicted with. A doctor can likewise hear the ringing in the ear of an individual since atherosclerosis is indicative of some sort of structural problem within a person. A stethoscope is placed around the ear and the side of the patient's neck to do the diagnosis. Atherosclerosis is a more serious medical condition. A pulsing or rushing sound results from this type of tinnitus. What can be heard as pulsing or rushing through the ear is the individuals' own pulse.

The ringing in the ear which only the individual can hear results to the other form of tinnitus in most cases. It is less understood although it is very common. The noise in the ear is likewise not limited to ringing. Buzzing, whining, popping or even a static sound can be experienced. One or both ears maybe subject to such sounds. Treatment varies depending on individuals. Although alternative treatments may have been discovered, it is unfortunate that there is no treatment for tinnitus in most cases. Natural homeopathic treatments, acupuncture, hypnosis and even implants are among such alternative treatments.

Stiff Joints in Pets

Have you noticed Max the German Sheppard moving slower than normal and not getting as exciting about that game of Frisbee? Has Samantha the Siamese unable to leap to that sunny windowsill with the suppleness she has exhibited in the past? These and many more examples of stiff joints in pets could be an indication of degenerative joint disease in pets or osteoarthritis.
 
Degenerative joint disease in pets is caused by wear and tear over time accompanied by an erosion of the cartilage. As the cartilage flakes and crakes, the joint loses the shock absorber that allows it to function effectively. As cartilage disappears the bones lose their smooth lubricated action and eventually the bone will become flattened, thickened, eroded, and distorted. Extra bone tissue develops at the joint margins (sometimes jagged). Stiff joints in pets can be a quality of life altering condition that generally is noticed in middle age or older pets.
 
Common indications of osteoarthritis in pets are lethargy, lameness, swelling in the joint area, muscle loss, and thickening and scarring of the joint membrane. If the condition is allowed to continue or has gone unnoticed for a long period of time the affected joint/joints will make a grating sound. This is the rubbing sound of bone on bone. Your veterinarian will likely want to take an X-ray to confirm the condition.
 
As a loving pet owner you now are likely wonder what, if anything, can be done both to ease the symptoms and reverse the condition.
 
Let's discuss a few ideas.
 
*Weight loss - Degenerative joint disease is most commonly found in weight bearing joints. It is also more common in larger breeds. Weight reduction may also be an important component in successful treatment and should be one of the first steps taken.
 
*Exercise - Stiff joints reduces the activity level of most pets. This loss of activity may lead to muscle loss and even stiffer less mobile joints. Exercise conducted on soft surfaces or hydrotherapy are both very good options.
 
*Warm compresses - Using a warm compress or water bottle will make your pet more comfortable and loosen up those stiff joints. Keeping their bed warm, especially in the winter months, is commonly recommended and will make it easier for them to move around; especially early in the morning or late at night.
 
*Medications - Most medications work to treat pain and inflammation and carry the risk of side effects, especially for long term use. You should not completely dismiss this area of treatment. Prescription medication treatment for stiff joints is best discussed with your veterinary doctor.
 
*Nutrition and Supplementation - There is good evidence to support the effectiveness of supplementation in treating stiff joints in pets. The supplements that are generally considered to be the most effective contain glucosamine, chondroitin, and an array of vitamins and minerals. Glucosamine and chondroitin are known to be involved in the synthesis and repair of joint cartilage.
 
In summary, recognizing and treating stiff joints in pet's early can improve your beloved furry friend's chances of recapturing their past quality of life. Your veterinarian may be able to give your pet an analgesic or corticosteroid to relieve and improve joint function but keep in mind this is only a temporary fix. As discussed above a more long lasting solution would be the use of supplements specifically formulated for joint stiffness and joint health. This type of treatment approach to stiff joints can prove helpful in halting and reversing degenerative joint disease in pets and is a safe and effective treatment option worth considering.

Ice Treatment (Cryotherapy) As a Pain Relief

Ice Treatment
Ice is an important and natural treatment with many advantages. It is an effective painkiller which can be applied to the injured area, giving instant relief. Ice also prevents excess swelling or inflammation developing. This helps to restore full mobility faster and prevents scar tissue formation, helping an injury to heal up to 75% quicker.

How injury causes inflammation
Ligaments, muscles and tendons have elastic properties due to a protein called collagen. If they are over-stretched (such as a sprain during exercise, or because of an accident), the collagen and local blood vessels tear. Blood and fluid then escapes into the spaces among the injured fibres, resulting in a build-up of fluid. The body releases histamine to help bring nutrients to repair the tissues, which makes the blood vessels dilate even further. Unfortunately, this creates an excess inflammation or swelling as the fluid around the injury stagnates. Because the blood circulation is hampered, toxins are released due to lack of oxygen. This results in pain and (often) further muscle spasm and scar tissue soon starts to form. The excess inflammation must be cleared from the site of injury before the toxins can be removed and nutrients can return, allowing the healing process to begin properly. (Inflammation may be visible on the surface of the skin as a swollen bruised area, but will not show if it is deep inside the body.)

How Ice Treatment (Cryotherapy) works on an injury
As soon as inflammation starts, ice treatment can be highly effective. By decreasing the flow of fluid into the injured tissues, it allows the blood to circulate, which helps to remove the toxins. Fresh oxygen is able to reach the injury and the release of chemicals that cause pain and inflammation slows down. Nutrients reach the torn fibres and help to repair the area. Reducing the swelling and internal bleeding prevents the development of excess scar tissue that can cause permanent muscle, ligament or joint restrictions. Ice acts as a painkiller by reducing the ability of the nerve endings to conduct impulses and by reducing toxic build-up. Cooling the deep tissue also reduces muscle spasm and helps restore mobility in the joints.

Indications for Ice Treatment
Ice is indicated for acute injuries where inflammation occurs such as Bursitis, Tendonitis, Myositis, or Neuritis and can be excellent following a heat burn. In the treatment of acute lower back pain and other joint strains, applying ice can be vital to help reduce the deep swelling that occurs at the site of injury and to help reduce the discomfort that may occur following adjustment, manipulation or deep massage.

How to use Ice
Ice is applied directly to the swollen or painful area. Wrap a towel (preferably damp) around the ice pack to avoid direct ice to skin contact, as ice burns can occur. Keep all untreated parts of the body covered and warm. If you are cold-sensitive, wrap the ice in a dry towel. A fully wet towel is more effective but vary the dampness to suit. A few ice cubes can simply be used but a gel pack is pliable when frozen, giving better surface contact and is simple to refreeze. Occasionally an ice cube may be massaged directly onto a small area of pain, using a constant circular motion as the water can insulate the skin and prevent burning but please use this method with caution.

Duration and frequency of cold pack application
How often and for how long cold packs should be used varies, so please ask your chiropractor, but generally they can be used from five to twenty minutes at a time allowing an hour between applications. Superficial areas such as hands, feet and elbows will require less time than deeper areas such as the lower back which would require a full 20 minutes. Cold therapy should be stopped once the skin feels numb. Hourly applications are most effective immediately following an injury, reducing in frequency as the inflammation and pain subsides. Ice is best used in the first 48 hours after an injury and may be required for longer periods.

When not to use ice treatment
Ice should be used cautiously with circulatory conditions such as Raynaud's phenomenon, diabetes or heart problems. Do not use over a fracture site or if there is an inability to respond or feel cold. A few people are also hypersensitive or even allergic to cold. If you have any doubt about using ice please ask your Chiropractor or Doctor prior to use. Anti-inflammatory and painkilling drugs can also help to reduce the swelling. Care needs to be taken when using painkillers, as these can mask the pain and too much activity can then aggravate the condition.

Remember PRICE!

Prevention Acute injuries treated correctly and immediately always heal faster.
Rest Stop if you have strained yourself!
Ice As indicated by your chiropractor or health care practitioner.
Compression After ice it may help to minimise the swelling with a bandage
Elevation Raise the injured part to help limit blood flow and prevent the use of associated muscles.

Pain in Joints - Where Every Joint Hurts to Move

Having pain in your joints now and then is common but when you wake up one morning and every joint hurts, where your toes may twinge and your knees and arms are constantly hit by sharp jolts, you have grounds to be concerned.

Arthritis however may not be the problem here, a viral, kidney infection or tendonitis could be the cause, in which case anti-inflammatory drugs maybe prescribed for the very short term until the symptoms subside and you recover.

If however some form of arthritis has not been detected, then it's obviously crucial that your doctor advises you to see a rheumatologist.

Also, be sure to keep a diary of the pain you're experiencing so in case blood tests don't reveal the cause as is often the case when trying to detect this disease, you have some detailed notes which will help your doctor pinpoint what illness you have.

Here's an example of how almost every joint in your body may hurt:

From head down:

• No pain above neck level, no fever, no headache, no sickness.


• Pain across shoulders when you try to raise an arm or turn your head.


• When you clench a fist there's a pain in the elbow joint.


• Rotating wrists causes pain.


• Straightening or bending the joint will cause additional elbow agony.


• A strong ache in the lower back when you sit or stand up.


• Standing causes discomfort in the knees.


• The hip may be tender to touch.


• Curling your toes causes pain along with trying to point your feet up in the air.


• Rotating the ankle can be excruciating.


• When sat down if you try and cross your legs the knee's may crack and also feel hot and inflamed and tender to touch around the knee joint and surrounding muscle.

If you are experiencing something close to or all of these symptoms across your whole body, then you will most definitely get referred to a rheumatologist - a rheumy.

To help speed up the diagnosis, along with keeping tabs on the joint pains you are experiencing and at what particular time, keep a list also of the foods you've been consuming as gluten foods for example can really inflame joints where as fresh fish and certain vegetables can help reduce the swelling and pain.

By doing so your rheumy will be able to connect the dots. You will also be asked to bring a urine sample and the list of medications you've been taking.