Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two conditions that affect millions of Americans, and while you may assume that the conditions are pretty similar, these forms of arthritis are quite unique. In today’s blog, we break down the differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and explain how physical therapy can have a role in treating both conditions.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and it occurs when the protective cartilage that allows for fluid joint movement breaks down. Without this protective cartilage, bones can rub against one another, leading to painful motion and localized inflammation. Some osteoarthritic degeneration occurs naturally as we get older and our bodies succumb to decades of normal stress, but this process can also be exacerbated by outside factors like an acute injury or obesity.
Osteoarthritis can develop in any joint in the body, but it tends to be more common in larger joints that handle a fair amount of regular stress, like our knees or hips. It is also a localized joint issue, meaning that it does not affect other bodily systems. Once cartilage is lost, there is nothing you can do to naturally help it regrow, but there are a number of treatments that focus on maintaining function, reducing symptoms and slowing the continued progression of osteoarthritic degeneration.
What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Unlike osteoarthritis, which is a progressive disease contained to a specific area of your body, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is actually the result of an autoimmune problem. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells, believing they are foreign invaders. RA causes the body to attack part of the joint known as the synovium, which is a thin lining of the joint capsule that helps to lubricate the joint and aid in normal movements.
RA is not just contained to the joint, as it affects your immune system and other body systems. This means that it can also present with additional symptoms not contained to the affected joint, like fever, fatigue and weight loss. Chronic or isolated rheumatoid arthritis flareups can result in joint inflammation, stiffness and general discomfort. While physical therapy can play a role in helping you mitigate symptoms associated with RA, it’s unlikely that physical therapy will be your only form of treatment. Medications can help address the problematic immune response so that a flareup causes less of a reaction within the joint.
Treating Arthritis With Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is beneficial for patients dealing with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, and while your specific care regimen may vary, the reasons behind the treatment technique remain the same. Physical therapy will help patients dealing with RA or OA by:
- Strengthening surrounding structures to take stress off the joint.
- Maintaining and increasing joint flexibility.
- Overcoming symptoms like stiffness, swelling and discomfort.
- Limiting the progression of the condition or decreasing the effects of a flareup.
Both of these forms of arthritis aren’t something that can be reversed or cured, so proactively managing the condition and limiting its continued progression are key to maintaining a high quality of life, and we can help you do this through a physical therapy program. Let us decrease your symptoms and keep you active for years to come. For more information, or for assistance managing a different health issue, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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