Arthritis is one of the most prominent causes of immobility in the U.S and it influences a large number of people across countries. There are various types of arthritis which when combined together costs much on your medical bills and visits to physicians.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a grave, autoimmune illness that leads to sore joints and joint lining. It also influences your internal organs and circulatory systems.

Usually, the effects of RA could be more visibly noticed in the consensual joints of your wrists, fingers, knee, stiff ankles, or feet. It not only makes your joints swell but also leads to intense fatigue.

Physical Therapy (PT) eases rheumatoid arthritis patients to a great extent. Depending upon the severity of the situation, Physical Therapy specialists may prescribe you a variety of joint protection strategies. The most common among them are as follows -

Rest and Splinting

Ideally, affected joints should be allowed to relax in the later phases of the illness. Sometimes, bed rest can be more effective than rigorous joint engagement. It becomes crucial at this phase, to put your joints to ease thereby keeping it functional. The rest positions for the joints include -

• Shoulder joint inclined in about 45 degrees.

• Wrist joints in about 20 - 30 degree dorsiflexion

• Lower portion of the body at around 45 degrees without any action of bending

• Knees-feet in restful position

Orthosis and splinting techniques are combined together to accomplish the following goals -

• Lower down pain

• Reduce swelling

• Protect against joint abnormalities

• Relax joint stress

• Curtail upon joint stiffness

Compression gloves

Compression gloves are specially recommended to the elderly patients who have developed joint swelling to an acute level. It is found that the regular use of compression gloves bring in well-being within few days. Its usage is beneficial during night hours for the sufferers with swelling on their finger joints and wrists.

Devices & Equipment

Occupational therapies boost functional ability in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The tools like adaptive devices and equipments have positive impacts on joint shielding and energy conservation in RA sufferers. These devices aim at -

• Managing mobility issues

• Reduce pain

• Boost independency in patients

Occupation therapists design customized programs to make patients accept the environment naturally and to encourage operational independence. These days, healthcare specialists, keep themselves one step ahead by presenting the catalogues with device models, used during the programme.

Therapeutic Exercises

Muscular feebleness in RA patients may develop due to immobilization and limited physical activities of everyday life. A proper upkeep of the normal muscular power is critical for steadiness of the joints and avoidance of stressful injuries.

What to consider before designing an exercise program-

• Understand the location extent of the pain - localized or system-oriented

• Which stage of the disease is the patient into

• Synergizing therapy with the patient's environment

Muscular stretching, core strengthening, aerobic sessions are the most common part of therapeutic exercises. However, stressful exercises should not be done in chronic arthritis pain. Isometric sessions can be immensely helpful in such cases.

Author Bio:

Pieter Reynolds is familiar with well-known physical therapy professionals. He himself has been benefited by this therapeutic technique to improve his health condition. In this article, he has shared information about “How Joint Protection Strategies of PT Assists in Rheumatoid Arthritis” after collecting information from various sources and from skilled physical therapists Anaheim.