Rheumatoid Arthritis & Physiotherapy

You’ve almost certainly heard of arthritis - it’s a very common condition, with some form of arthritis affecting 1 in 5 Canadians. Arthritis is not a single condition, but a group of conditions that can cause pain, restrict mobility, and negatively affect quality of life. Some forms of arthritis are much more common than others. Osteoarthritis for example is a very common form, one that we talk about a lot because of the important role physiotherapy and exercise play in managing it.

But osteoarthritis is not the only type of arthritis that can be helped by physiotherapy! People suffering from many types of arthritis can benefit from Physiotherapy treatment. One of the types of arthritis that Physiotherapy can help manage is Rheumatoid Arthritis.

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory, autoimmune disorder that can affect multiple joints and organs in the body. In autoimmune diseases, the body’s immune system, which normally protects against infections, attacks healthy tissue by mistake.

In RA, the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, commonly in the hands, knees and ankles. This attack leads to inflammation, swelling, pain and stiffness. This inflammation can also cause problems in other areas of the body, such as the heart, lungs, nerves, skin and eyes.

Typically RA develops in middle age and is more common in women than men. Genetics plays a role- if you have a family member with RA your odds of developing the condition increase.

What are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

RA symptoms may come and go. When someone is experiencing lot of inflammation and an increase in symptoms it is called a flare. A flare can last for days or months.

The symptoms of RA include:

• Joint pain that lasts for 6 weeks or longer 
• Joint tenderness, swelling or stiffness that lasts for 6 weeks or longer.
• Morning stiffness that lasts for 30 minutes or longer.
• The same joints on both side of the body are affected

Rheumatoid Arthritis will affect more than just one joint in the body, and small joints such as the wrist, hands and feet are typically affected first. 

Is There a Cure or Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis? 

While currently there is no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, there are treatment and management options.  Treatment of RA is aimed at improving the symptoms and slowing disease progression. It is important to treat RA as soon possible as research has shown early intervention can improve long term outcomes and quality of life. Because this disorder affects many joints and organs, it is best managed with an interprofessional team.

Physiotherapy can play an important role in the non-pharmacological management of RA.Through the development of individualized exercise programs that can address flexibility, endurance, strength, and balance as well as other interventions and modalities, Physiotherapists can help people with RA manage pain and disability related to the disease.

If you have Rheumatoid Arthritis and are looking for help manging your symptoms, our team is here to help! Contact us today to get set up with one of our Physiotherapists. 

And remember - Rheumatoid Arthritis is not the only form of arthritis that can be managed with Physiotherapy treatment. If you're experiencing pain and limitation from any form of Arthritis, lets chat and see how our team can help you feel your best!