Arthritis, Including Osteoarthritis

Arthritis is one of the most common reasons people come to see me, and one of the most misunderstood. Osteoarthritis is the form most people know, but it is only one of many. Many arrive believing they simply have to live with the aches, the stiffness, and the limitations. The good news is that there is often a great deal that can be done to help your joints feel and move better, whichever form of arthritis you have, and even if you have tried Physical Therapy in the past without lasting results.

The difference lies in looking deeper. True joint health depends on more than the joint itself. It depends on the health of the surrounding tissue, the way the joint is loaded and supported, and the movement patterns you use every day. When I evaluate you, I take all of these layers into account so that we can address the real drivers of your discomfort rather than the symptoms alone.

There is another piece that is frequently overlooked. Sometimes what feels like joint pain is actually coming from the nervous system or the fascial tissue that wraps and connects everything in the body. When these sources have never been properly assessed, the pain can mimic arthritis so closely that it is easy to assume the joint is the culprit. Ruling these factors in or out is an important part of understanding what is really going on, and it often opens up new avenues for relief and improved function.

Arthritis simply means inflammation in a joint, and more than a hundred conditions fall under that umbrella. These are the ones I see most often:

• Osteoarthritis, the wear-and-load form, most familiar in the knees, hips, hands, and spine.
• Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune forms, where the immune system itself drives inflammation in the joint lining, often in the same joints on both sides of the body.
• Psoriatic arthritis, which can accompany psoriasis and tends to involve the fingers and toes, the spine, and the places where tendons attach to bone.
• Ankylosing spondylitis and related conditions that mainly affect the spine and the sacroiliac joints, with stiffness that is often worst in the morning.
• Gout and other crystal-related forms, which arrive as sudden, intensely painful flares in a single joint.
• Post-traumatic arthritis, which develops in a joint years after a fracture, a ligament tear, or a surgery.

These are diagnosed and medically managed by your physician or rheumatologist, and for the inflammatory and autoimmune forms, medication is often an essential part of care. Physical Therapy does not replace any of that; it works alongside it. Whatever the diagnosis, what happens around the joint is remarkably similar — muscles weaken, tissue tightens, and movement patterns shift to avoid pain — and that is the layer I work in.

My goal is to help you move with greater ease and confidence, so that arthritis becomes something you manage well rather than something that manages you.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a licensed healthcare provider or Physical Therapist before making changes to your diet, exercise routine, or supplement regimen. If you experience any pain, discomfort, or adverse effects while following any of the suggestions mentioned, discontinue immediately and seek professional guidance. Your health and safety are our top priorities.