Take a Proactive Approach to Arthritis Pain with Regular Exercise
Have you recently learned that your persistent joint pain is the result of arthritis? For many, this can be a challenging discovery, as the most common forms of arthritis have no known cures. But rest assured that you do not have to spend your life living with debilitating joint pain — the integrated team at ProClinix Sports Physical Therapy & Chiropractic can help!
Arthritis refers to several conditions that cause joint inflammation, leading to its two primary symptoms: pain and mobility restriction. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, can cause pain during movement. It’s no surprise, then, that many people with arthritis wind up avoiding physical activity.
In reality, regular physical activity is one of the best ways to manage arthritis pain. Physical activity can also help delay the progression of arthritis — and help you avoid surgery.
Our team of physical therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and acupuncturists is well-equipped to help you manage your arthritis pain with a comprehensive approach that focuses on drug-free pain relief and regular movement. Best of all, it allows you to take a proactive role in your treatment.
Let’s start by looking at what happens when you exercise regularly with arthritis — and what happens when you don’t. And if you’d like to learn more, call us to schedule an appointment today!
Got Arthritis? What To Expect if You Skip Regular Exercise
- Your muscles will weaken: One of the big benefits of exercise is that it builds muscle mass. If you don’t exercise regularly, your muscle mass will decrease — especially if you’re older, as muscle mass naturally decreases as we age.
What does this mean if you have arthritis? Without strong muscles, your impacted joints don’t get the strength and stability they need to function, which puts even more stress on them — and means more pain in the long run. - Your joints will get stiffer: Our bodies are made to move, and when we don’t move them frequently enough, our joints don’t get the lubrication they need to run properly. This is as true for people with arthritis as it is for anyone else. Plus, since arthritis causes joint stiffness, not moving will only worsen your symptoms.
- You increase your risk of injury: When you don’t exercise, you start to lose everyday abilities like balance, stability, and coordination. You can also develop muscular imbalances, improper biomechanics, or postural issues, all of which increase your odds of suffering an injury.
What Happens When You Do Exercise with Arthritis
You’ll experience less pain: While it’s true that activity can initially worsen arthritis pain, regular exercise will decrease your pain symptoms over time.
- You’ll experience fewer mobility restrictions: Just as regular exercise can decrease pain, it will also help improve your range of motion — meaning you can move more easily.
- The progression of your arthritis may slow: Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis — the two most common forms of arthritis — will gradually worsen over time and may eventually require you to undergo surgery. Exercising won’t cure arthritis, but it will slow the damage to your joints.
- You may feel more empowered: Living with a chronic condition is hard. Regular exercise can help you feel like you’re taking an active role in managing your condition and reducing your pain.
- You’ll experience other physical and mental benefits: Exercise offers many benefits beyond pain management. It can improve mood and quality of sleep, protect you from heart disease and diabetes, and help you stay active and independent well into old age.
Ready to Start Exercising? ProClinix Sports Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Can Help!
While the benefits of regular exercise for arthritis are undeniable, getting started can be challenging. Which movements are safe for you to perform? Which will provide you with the most benefits? What should you do if even simple movement is too painful?
This is where our multidisciplinary team shines! We’ll create a customized arthritis treatment plan that speaks to your needs and abilities. Here’s a taste of all that we can offer:
- Acute pain management using massage therapy, manual techniques, and acupuncture
- Personalized exercise programs with targeted, progressive exercises that build strength and improve mobility
- Specialized exercise programs to address balance and other functional challenges
- Guidance on general exercise programs to keep you moving outside our clinic
Don’t let arthritis keep you from living an active, healthy lifestyle. Call us today to find out more about our arthritis treatment programs!
Join Us for a Healthier You – Book Today!
Come back to ProClinix Sports Physical Therapy & Chiropractic and book your appointment today for personalized care and exceptional service!
Pleasantville Office
We’re excited to share that our Pleasantville office has moved to a brand new, state-of-the-art facility located at 134 Marble Avenue in Pleasantville—right on one of the main roads for your convenience! With over double the space, we can now enhance our services to better meet your needs.
In addition to our trusted offerings in physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with SkinClinix, bringing you a range of aesthetic services!
Parking Tip: For easy access, turn onto Irvington Street; our lot will be the first right.
We warmly invite you to visit us at our new location—we can’t wait to welcome you into our new space!
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We include videos covering topics such as exercises, meet the experts, patient testimonials and more!
Article of the Month
The Risks of Early Sport Specialization in Youth Athletes
Recent insights from Dr. Daniel Brennan, PT, DPT, reveal that early sport specialization among youth athletes may not be the advantage it’s believed to be. Research indicates that focusing on one sport too early can limit motor skill development, increase injury risks, and lead to higher burnout rates.
Key points include:
- Motor Skill Development: Children learn essential movements during childhood, which are vital for overall athletic performance. Specializing early restricts exposure to varied physical activities, hindering skill adaptation.
- Injury Risks: Due to skeletal immaturity, children are more prone to overuse injuries, which can disrupt their athletic progress and enjoyment.
- Burnout Concerns: Year-round training can create undue stress, reducing both performance and enjoyment, and potentially leading to a sedentary lifestyle later in life.
To support young athletes, it’s crucial to encourage participation in multiple sports and promote free play until at least high school. Prioritizing gradual skill development and incorporating rest periods can help mitigate injury and burnout, fostering lifelong engagement in physical activities.
Meet Our Team
Joanna Ferdman
L.Ac. Acupuncturist
Melanie Mandel
PTA, CSCS
Dr. Brian J. Dombal
PT, DPT, Director of Physical Therapy
Dr. Alan H. Siegel
DC, Director of Chiropractic
Dr. Stefanie Tropea
DC, Chiropractic
Dr John Maloney
DC, Chiropractic
Dr Joseph Recchia
DC, ATC, Chiropractic
Dr. Tyler Fallon
PT, DPT, CSCS
Dr. Michael Donnelly
PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Dr. Emily Ford
PT, DPT
Dr. Elizabeth Bynum
PT, DPT
Dr. Stephen Grunbok
PT, DPT
Adam Pliskow
PT, MS
Dr. John Shlimoun
PT, DPT
Dr. Chris Ju
PT, DPT, FAFS, CSCS, USAW
Daniel Bogart
PT, MS, CSCS
Dr. Alice Canale
PT, DPT
Dr. Evan Qatani
PT, DPT, CSCS
Dr. Benjamin Hylka
PT, DPT
Dr. Daniel Brennan
PT, DPT
Dr. Nicholas Crecco
PT, DPT
Andrea Gurciullo
L.Ac. Acupuncturist, MTOM
