Is Arthritis Reversible?

Is your joint pain from arthritis making life difficult? Perhaps you’ve tried over-the-counter medication, but its temporary help isn’t enough. 

Board-certified physical therapist Dr. Mohamed Hablas at Outreach Manual Physical Therapy in Brooklyn, New York, treats many patients with arthritis. Physical therapy helps you increase the range of motion in the affected joint, ease pain, and lessen stiffness, all to improve your quality of life. 

Is arthritis reversible? 

No drugs or other treatments can reverse arthritis, but you can manage the condition so that it doesn’t disable you. If you get a handle on your arthritis before it becomes severe, you can help slow its progression. 

What can I do to manage my arthritis? 

You have an important role to play in managing your arthritis. Specific lifestyle changes can ease arthritis symptoms. 

Maintain an average weight 

Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for arthritis. Approximately one-third of obese individuals have arthritis. Your weight-bearing joints, like your knees and hips, aren’t made to carry excess weight. 

Think of the millions of miles you put on these joints throughout your lifetime. Being overweight puts extra heavy pressure on your knees and hips, which can cause early cartilage breakdown. The extra fat also results in inflammation, which increases your pain. 

New drugs like Ozempic are helping many people shed excess pounds. If you need help losing weight, try a medically-supervised weight loss program. 

Change your diet 

Does your pantry contain a lot of processed food in boxes? Do you love sodas and other drinks containing calories? Do many of your meals include French fries and other fried foods? These food choices contain added fats, sugars, and salt, which increase inflammation. 

Try changing what you eat and feel a difference in your joint pain. Change your drinks to sparkling water and other beverages without sugar. Add lemon or lime to your water. 

Instead of buying canned fruit cocktail in heavy syrup, choose fresh fruit. Add vegetables and lean protein like fish and poultry to your diet. Choose salmon, tuna, and mackerel at the grocery store. Eat red meat sparingly to decrease inflammation. Ditch the chips in plastic bags. 

Altering the way you eat is a significant life change. Your physician can recommend a registered dietician to help you select and prepare healthy foods. You will also see a difference in how you feel. 

Complete a course of physical therapy 

Physical therapy is a standard treatment for arthritis. Using passive and active modalities, Dr. Hablas helps improve your range of motion, ease your pain, lessen stiffness, and increase your mobility. 

Again, you have an important role to play. Practice the exercises at home that Dr. Hablas has you perform during your therapy appointment. You repeat the exercises several times, two or three times per day. 

A course of physical therapy may last six to eight weeks and may be longer when it occurs after joint replacement.

Choose low-impact activities 

Once your inflammation is under control, it’s critical to get regular physical exercise. Have you heard the adage, “Move it or lose it”? That’s true where arthritis is concerned. 

Choose low-impact activities. Walking, cycling, swimming, and water aerobics are helpful activities for arthritis. Tai chi’s gentle movements help improve the range of motion in your painful joints. Gentle yoga and chair yoga can lessen stiffness and reduce stress. Acupuncture improves blood flow and releases “feel good” endorphins that help to block pain. 

Call Outreach Manual Physical Therapy or book an appointment through our online portal today for expert treatment for arthritis pain.