May is National Arthritis Awareness Month

May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. It is important to be aware of arthritis symptoms, causes and treatments. Arthritis can lead to severe joint pain which can affect a person's mental and physical health. Arthritis is another way of referring to joint pain/inflammation. There is a significant amount of different arthritis types and related conditions. Arthritis may affect anyone, it does not matter what sex, age, or race you are. “In the United States, 24% of all adults, or 58.5 million people, have arthritis and it is the leading cause of disability in America.”

Symptoms of joint pain can vary from mild, moderate or severe. Arthritis symptoms may stay the same over years, progress or get worse. Common arthritis symptoms may include pain, swelling, stiffness and decrease in range of motion. Arthritis may be so severe you may start to experience symptoms like chronic pain, difficulty walking or climbing stairs and struggling to do daily activities. 

The cause of Arthritis is unknown but there are several things that may raise your risk of developing arthritis such as excess weight, genes, age, race, injuries, infections, repetitive movements, and careers which involve heavy lifting. 

Physical therapy and occupational therapy may help provide pain relief caused by arthritis. Occupational therapy can help teach you how to do your daily activities safely and easy. Occupational therapy can help a person with arthritis learn how to safely eat, bath, dress and complete other daily tasks they need to accomplish throughout their day. An occupational therapist can teach you how to use grab bars in the bath tube, use walkers and canes, use devices such as can openers to help open jars, and avoid positions that strain your joints. 

Physical therapy can help increase range of motion, joint mobility, and strength. Physical therapy treatments aim to help relieve pain and stiffness and are able to slow or stop the progression of arthritis damage. At Reddy Care Physical, Occupational and Aquatic Therapy, your physical therapist will evaluate you and design a unique treatment plan tailored specifically for you and your needs. Your physical therapy treatment plan may include strengthening exercises, exercise rehabilitation, stretches, massage therapy and manual therapy.

If you or a loved one is suffering from arthritis, call our office today! Our team of experts can help control your pain the sooner you call for help.

Great Neck: 475 Northern Blvd., Ste.11, Great Neck, NY 11021   Tel. (516) 829-0030

Farmingdale: 309 North West Dr., Farmingdale, NY 11735   Tel. (516) 420-2900

Woodbury: 150 Woodbury Rd., Woodbury, NY 11797   Tel. (516) 367-1111

Deer Park: 2024 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park, NY 11729   Tel. (631) 243-0247

North Shore Towers: 272-78 Grand Central Pkwy., Floral Park, NY 11005   Tel. (516) 344-0030

In-Home Physical & Occupational Therapy (Home Care): 516-829-0030 

*Home therapy servicing Long Island, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, the Bronx & Manhattan*

Bayside - Aquatic Therapy: 208-32 Cross Island Pkwy., Bayside, NY11360  Tel. (718) 224-8480 *coming soon*

Sources: Arthritis.org, WebMD

Links: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube

Written by:

Dr. Vinod Somareddy, PT, DPT

President

Reddy Care Physical Therapy

Reddy Care Occupational Therapy

Reddy Care Aquatic Therapy

Author

Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy is an outstanding specialty service providing exceptional care and state-of-the-art treatments for the residents of Farmingdale and Great Neck, New York. The combination of innovative exercise programs, manual therapy, and technology together with the expertise of every member of the team enables Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to provide services that ensure superior clinical outcomes and consistently high patient satisfaction.