01 · Condition
Joint pain, stiffness, and loss of range that build up over years. Individualized strengthening and mobility work to keep you moving comfortably.
Overview
Arthritis is a long-term inflammation of one or more joints that causes pain, stiffness, and a slow loss of motion. Osteoarthritis (the wear-and-tear kind) is the most common form, but rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory types respond well to physical therapy too. Symptoms tend to be worst first thing in the morning or after a long stretch of inactivity, and many patients find that the joint loosens up once they start moving.
Our approach
We start with a hands-on assessment of how the affected joint moves, how the muscles around it are firing, and what daily activities are flaring it up. The treatment plan is a combination of manual therapy to restore range, targeted strengthening for the muscles that protect the joint, and practical changes to how you load that joint at home, at work, and during exercise. There is no generic protocol; the work is built around your specific joint, your specific activity level, and your specific goals.
The arc of care
Most patients are seen one to two times a week for four to eight weeks, with the work gradually shifting from in-clinic treatment to a home program you can run on your own. The goal is not to chase pain on a pain scale, it is to give you back the activities you have been avoiding.