Debunking 6 Myths About Arthritis

Arthritis, a chronic, progressive condition characterized by inflammation of the joints, is the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting more than 50 million people. Physical therapists can help reduce arthritic symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and create a customized, comprehensive exercise and manual therapy program to help arthritis patients move safely and improve function, strength, and range of motion in the affected joints. However, there are numerous misconceptions about who is affected by arthritis and how to treat it effectively. Check out our post debunking 6 myths about arthritis!

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting more than 50 million people. Arthritis is a chronic, progressive condition characterized by inflammation of the joints, causing joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and decreased range of motion. While there are over 100 different types of arthritis, the most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis followed by rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that involves the breakdown of the cartilage between joints, causing bones to rub together and resulting in joint stiffness, swelling, and pain. Osteoarthritis most often affects the hands, hips, knees, low back, and neck. Osteoarthritis can result from a lifetime of joint motion, overuse, previous injury, and age-related changes in the body. 

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the synovium of the joints. The synovium is a tough membrane that lines the joint. With RA, the synovium and affected joint become inflamed and swollen, eventually destroying cartilage and bone within the joint.

Debunking 6 Myths About Arthritis

Arthritis is a common cause of joint pain among Americans of all ages. However, there are numerous misconceptions about who is affected by arthritis and how to treat arthritis effectively. Below we debunk 6 myths about arthritis:

1)    Myth: Arthritis only affects you as you get older.

Fact: While the risk of developing arthritis increases with age, arthritis can affect people of all ages, even children. For example, juvenile idiopathic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects children 16 and younger. More than half of adults (65%) with arthritis are working age (ages 18-64). Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age. Osteoarthritis is often referred to as an age-related wear and tear condition; however, it can also develop due to a previous sports injury, repetitive stress from certain occupations, or due to the stress obesity can place on your joints.

2)    Myth: Rest is best. I should avoid exercising arthritic joints!

Fact: Many think that if they are experiencing arthritic pain that they should rest and refrain from using the joint, reducing their activity level to “preserve” the joint. However, rest and inactivity are detrimental in the long run as the joint will become stiffer and the muscles surrounding the joint will weaken from lack of activity.

In fact, regular exercise is the cornerstone of osteoarthritis management. Exercise can be very beneficial for those with arthritis, helping you manage symptoms and improving mobility, flexibility, range of motion, and strength of your joints and surrounding muscles. Exercise can reduce joint pain, release endorphins for improved mood, improve strength and range of motion, enhance overall function, encourage weight loss, allow for better quality sleep, improve bone density and energy levels, and lower blood pressure.

3)    Myth: Physical Therapy isn’t going to help because the x-ray shows bone-on-bone.

Fact: It has been proven that x-ray changes alone do not predict pain or function of the joint. Many who show advanced OA on an x-ray are not aware they have OA, while some who have minor x-ray changes in their OA experience severe joint pain. Physical therapists are experts in prescribing the right dose and type of exercise for your condition, age, fitness level, goals, and deficits. Research has shown that exercise therapy results in better outcomes for OA patients than medication, injections, or surgery. A systematic review of 5,000 knee OA patients revealed that land-based therapeutic exercise significantly reduced pain and improved physical function and quality of life immediately following treatment. These improvements were sustained for up to 6 months after the end of formal treatment. 

4)    Myth: Surgery is the only option to treat arthritis.

Fact: There are many treatment options to address arthritis at various stages of the disease. The earlier arthritis is diagnosed the better as early intervention can help slow the progression of the disease and enhance function and mobility through targeted treatments like physical therapy-led exercise, injections, medications, and weight management. Non-invasive conservative treatment of arthritis is recommended. Surgery, such as a total joint replacement, is performed in response to severe degeneration of the joint from arthritis and is a last resort.

5)    Myth: Once you have arthritis, pain will only get worse.

Fact: Many individuals with arthritis can successfully manage symptoms and reduce arthritic pain throughout their lifetime. If caught early, arthritis responds well to physical therapy interventions like strengthening and range of motion exercises. Heat and ice therapies are passive treatments that can ease pain, stiffness, and swelling from arthritis. Cortisone and hyaluronic acid injections in conjunction with physical therapy can also help to reduce arthritic pain.

6)    Myth: All joint pain is arthritis.

Fact: While arthritis is a common cause of joint pain, other conditions can cause joint pain, such as bursitis, tendonitis, lupus, injuries, and illnesses. A further misconception is that fibromyalgia is a form of arthritis. While the pain may be similar, fibromyalgia is a disease that attacks the nervous system, while arthritis, whether osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, attacks the joints.

Physical Therapy for Arthritis

Physical therapists can help reduce arthritic symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and create a customized, comprehensive exercise and manual therapy program to help arthritis patients move safely and improve function, strength, and range of motion in the affected joints.

Physical therapists incorporate stretching, low-impact aerobic exercise like aquatic therapy or stationary bike riding, targeted strength training, and manual therapy to help patients maintain mobility, strengthen the muscles around joints, and manage pain flare ups. Physical therapy can also help with body alignment and balance to reduce stress on your joints and prevent falls. Physical therapy-led exercise keeps joints from becoming too stiff, strengthens the muscles around joints, and maintains bone and cartilage health and joint function.

If you are experiencing arthritic pain, give our physical therapists a call to start your customized therapy program toward pain relief and improved function and mobility!