Arthritis

Arthritis can make everyday movement feel harder than it used to. Your knees may ache after walking. Your hips may feel stiff when you first stand up. Your hands may hurt when gripping something, or your back may become uncomfortable after sitting for too long. For many people, these changes gradually lead to doing less. But having arthritis does not mean you need to stop moving. Arthritis physical therapy can help you stay active and manage symptoms.

Physical therapy can help people with arthritis improve strength, mobility, balance, and confidence while finding practical ways to manage pain and stay active. At Reform Physical Therapy, we create individualized treatment plans based on how arthritis affects your life. Whether your goal is walking comfortably, returning to the gym, gardening, playing golf, keeping up with your grandchildren, or simply getting through your day with less difficulty, we’ll help you work toward the activities that matter to you.

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a broad term used for conditions that affect the joints and surrounding tissues. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. Different forms of arthritis can have different causes and require different medical treatment. Common symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty moving the affected joint. Arthritis can affect one joint or several areas throughout the body. The knees, hips, hands, feet, shoulders, and spine are among the areas that may be affected.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It involves changes to the tissues within a joint over time. Although people often describe osteoarthritis as simple “wear and tear,” the condition is more complicated than cartilage simply wearing away. Changes can occur in cartilage, bone, ligaments, and other structures surrounding the joint. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, swelling, decreased range of motion, and difficulty completing everyday activities. Osteoarthritis becomes more common with age, but symptoms and severity can vary greatly from one person to another.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks tissues in the body, including the lining of joints. This can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis requires appropriate medical management. Physical therapy does not treat the autoimmune disease itself, but rehabilitation may be included alongside medical treatment to help maintain movement, strength, function, and physical activity.

Arthritis Does Not Always Mean You Should Rest

When a joint hurts, avoiding movement can feel like the safest option. A short period of activity modification may sometimes be appropriate when symptoms flare. But completely avoiding movement for long periods can create another problem. Muscles may become weaker. Joints may feel stiffer. Balance and endurance can decrease. Eventually, activities that were once easy may require considerably more effort. For many people with arthritis, appropriately dosed exercise is an important part of managing symptoms and maintaining function.

Can Physical Therapy Help Arthritis?

Physical therapy cannot eliminate arthritis from a joint. What it can do is help address many of the problems that develop around it. Your physical therapist may work with you to improve joint mobility, muscle strength, balance, endurance, movement patterns, and confidence with activity. Treatment can also help you understand how much activity your body can currently tolerate and how to gradually increase it. The goal is not simply to make a joint “look better” on an X-ray.

We want to help you function better.

Arthritis Pain and Movement

Pain can make movement intimidating. You may worry that walking, exercising, squatting, climbing stairs, or lifting something will cause additional damage. That fear can gradually lead to avoiding more activities. One important part of physical therapy is helping you understand which movements are safe and how to gradually increase your activity. Your therapist can modify exercises based on your symptoms and progress them as your strength and confidence improve.

Morning Stiffness

Stiffness after waking is a common complaint among people with arthritis. You may feel as though a joint needs time to “warm up” before it moves comfortably. Gentle movement can sometimes help reduce that feeling. Your therapist may recommend a short mobility routine for the morning or after long periods of sitting. The specific exercises will depend on which joints are affected and what movements feel limited.

Arthritis Flare-Ups

Arthritis symptoms do not always stay the same from day to day. You may have days when movement feels relatively easy and others when pain or stiffness increases. A flare does not necessarily mean you have damaged the joint. Your therapist can help you learn how to adjust your activity when symptoms increase without abandoning exercise completely. That may mean temporarily changing resistance, range of motion, repetitions, walking distance, or another part of your routine.

As symptoms settle, activity can gradually increase again.

Knee Arthritis

The knee is one of the most common areas affected by osteoarthritis. Symptoms may include aching, stiffness, swelling, reduced motion, or discomfort when putting weight through the leg. Everyday activities can become more difficult. You may notice pain when going up or down stairs, getting out of a chair, walking longer distances, kneeling, or squatting. Physical therapy for knee arthritis often includes strengthening the muscles surrounding the knee and hip, improving mobility, and gradually increasing tolerance for functional activities.

Hip Arthritis

Hip arthritis can cause pain and stiffness around the hip. Some people feel discomfort directly along the outside of the hip, while others experience symptoms around the groin, thigh, or buttock. Putting on socks and shoes may become difficult. Getting in and out of a car can feel awkward. Walking longer distances or climbing stairs may also become uncomfortable. Physical therapy can address hip mobility, leg strength, balance, walking mechanics, and the activities most affected by your symptoms.

Shoulder Arthritis

Arthritis can also affect the shoulder. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, grinding sensations, weakness, or difficulty reaching. You may notice problems reaching into a cabinet, putting on a jacket, washing your hair, sleeping on the affected side, or lifting objects overhead. Your therapist can assess shoulder mobility and strength while helping you find exercises that improve function without unnecessarily aggravating the joint.

Hand and Wrist Arthritis

Arthritis in the hands and wrists can affect many small daily tasks. Opening a jar, turning a key, typing, cooking, gripping tools, carrying groceries, or fastening buttons may become uncomfortable. Treatment depends on the specific joints involved and the type of arthritis. Your rehabilitation program may address mobility, strength, activity modification, and strategies for reducing unnecessary stress during repetitive tasks.

Foot and Ankle Arthritis

Your feet and ankles absorb force with nearly every step you take. When arthritis affects these joints, walking and standing can become uncomfortable. Symptoms may also affect exercise, work, hiking, running, or recreational activities. Physical therapy can evaluate ankle and foot mobility, strength, balance, walking mechanics, footwear considerations, and the way the entire leg is functioning.

Arthritis in the Spine

Arthritic changes can occur in the joints of the neck and lower back. Some people experience primarily stiffness or aching. Others may have additional conditions occurring alongside arthritis that contribute to nerve-related symptoms. Treatment depends on what is actually causing your limitations. Physical therapy may include mobility exercises, strengthening, posture and movement strategies, and gradually increasing tolerance for activities such as sitting, standing, lifting, or walking.

Arthritis and Muscle Weakness

When movement hurts, people naturally use the painful area less. Over time, the muscles surrounding that joint may lose strength. This can make everyday activities even harder. For example, weak hip and thigh muscles can make climbing stairs or getting out of a chair more challenging for someone with knee arthritis. Strength training gives your muscles a greater ability to support everyday movement. Your therapist can determine an appropriate starting level and gradually increase the challenge.

Strength Training With Arthritis

Having arthritis does not automatically mean you need to avoid weights. Strength training can be an important part of maintaining function. The key is choosing an appropriate amount of resistance and progressing gradually. You might begin with bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, light weights, or supported movements. As your body adapts, the exercises can become more challenging. Your therapist can also modify movements that currently cause discomfort instead of removing them from your life altogether.

Walking With Arthritis

Walking is a simple way to remain active, but arthritis can make it challenging. Some people try to push through a long walk and experience a large increase in symptoms afterward. Others stop walking almost completely because they are afraid of making the arthritis worse. There is often a middle ground. Your therapist can help determine a reasonable starting distance or duration and build from there. Shorter walks performed consistently may initially work better than one long walk followed by several days of inactivity.

Arthritis and Balance

Pain, weakness, stiffness, and reduced activity can affect balance. You may become less confident walking on uneven ground, stepping off a curb, navigating stairs, or moving quickly. Balance training can be incorporated into physical therapy when needed. Your therapist may work on leg strength, single-leg control, stepping reactions, walking, and other activities based on your abilities.

Staying Active With Arthritis

Exercise does not need to mean running or completing a difficult gym workout. Walking, cycling, swimming, strength training, yoga, gardening, hiking, golf, pickleball, and many other activities can help people stay active. The best activity is often one that you enjoy enough to continue doing. If a favorite activity currently aggravates your symptoms, your therapist can help determine whether changing the duration, intensity, technique, equipment, or recovery time makes it more manageable.

Arthritis and Sports

Arthritis does not automatically mean your athletic years are over. Many adults want to continue golfing, playing pickleball, running, skiing, hiking, or participating in other sports. Your therapist can evaluate the physical demands of your sport and compare them with your current strength and mobility. Rehabilitation can then work toward closing those gaps. For some people, the goal is returning to competition. For others, it is simply staying active recreationally without worrying about every ache.

Arthritis and Weight Management

Body weight can influence the amount of force placed through weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. However, arthritis care should not simply be reduced to telling someone to lose weight. Physical activity, strength, sleep, nutrition, medical conditions, medications, and many other factors can influence overall health. Physical therapy primarily focuses on helping you move more comfortably and build the physical capacity needed for everyday life. If additional medical or nutritional support would be useful, your healthcare team can help guide you.

Manual Therapy for Arthritis

Some patients find hands-on treatment helpful for reducing stiffness and improving movement. Your physical therapist may use joint or soft tissue techniques when appropriate. Manual therapy is usually most useful when it supports a larger rehabilitation plan. The long-term goal is to help you develop strength, mobility, and strategies you can use independently rather than relying entirely on passive treatment.

Do I Need to Stop Activities That Hurt?

Not necessarily. Pain is important information, but discomfort does not always mean an activity is damaging your joint. Your therapist can help determine whether an activity needs to be stopped, temporarily modified, or simply progressed more gradually. Sometimes changing the depth of a squat, shortening a walk, reducing resistance, or taking additional recovery time is enough to keep you moving.

What About “Bone-on-Bone” Arthritis?

People are sometimes told that a joint is “bone-on-bone.” That description can sound alarming. Imaging is important for understanding structural changes, but an X-ray does not tell the entire story of how well someone can function. Two people with similar imaging findings can experience very different symptoms and activity levels. Your treatment plan should consider your pain, strength, mobility, goals, medical history, and daily function rather than focusing on imaging alone.

Will Exercise Wear Out My Joint Faster?

This is a common concern. Many people with osteoarthritis worry that exercise will cause more joint damage. Current arthritis management recommendations generally encourage appropriate physical activity rather than prolonged inactivity. The type and amount of exercise should still be individualized. If you have been inactive for a long time, jumping immediately into an intense program may cause a symptom flare. Gradual progression gives your body time to adapt.

When Is Joint Replacement Considered?

Some people with advanced hip or knee arthritis eventually consider joint replacement surgery. That decision is made between you and your orthopedic healthcare team based on symptoms, imaging, function, overall health, and response to conservative treatment. Physical therapy can play a role before and after surgery. Before surgery, improving strength and mobility may help you prepare for recovery. After surgery, rehabilitation focuses on restoring movement, strength, walking, and everyday function.

Physical Therapy Before Joint Replacement

You do not need to wait until after surgery to work with a physical therapist. If joint replacement has been recommended, strengthening your body beforehand can help you prepare for the physical demands of recovery. Your therapist can also teach you exercises and movement strategies you may use after surgery. This gives you an opportunity to become familiar with rehabilitation before the procedure.

Physical Therapy After Joint Replacement

Rehabilitation is an important part of recovery following many joint replacement procedures. Treatment typically focuses on gradually restoring mobility, strength, walking ability, and independence. Your goals may progress from getting around your home safely to climbing stairs, returning to work, exercising, traveling, or participating in recreational activities. Your program should continue to evolve as your function improves.

What Happens During an Arthritis Physical Therapy Evaluation?

Your first appointment gives your therapist an opportunity to understand how arthritis is affecting you. We will talk about your symptoms, medical history, activity level, and goals. Your therapist may evaluate joint mobility, strength, balance, walking, and movements related to the activities you are struggling with. We are not simply treating an X-ray. We want to know what arthritis is preventing you from doing. That information helps us create a treatment plan that fits your life.

What Does Physical Therapy for Arthritis Include?

There is no single arthritis exercise program that works for everyone. Your treatment may include mobility exercises, strengthening, balance training, walking or cardiovascular exercise, manual therapy, movement retraining, activity modification, and education. Your therapist can also help you develop a home exercise program. As you improve, exercises should progress, so your body continues adapting to greater demands.

How Long Does Physical Therapy for Arthritis Take?

There is no universal timeline. Your treatment plan depends on the joint involved, severity of symptoms, current strength and mobility, activity level, other medical conditions, and personal goals. Someone looking to comfortably climb stairs may have a different program from someone hoping to return to hiking or pickleball. Your therapist will monitor your response and adjust the program as you progress.

Can Arthritis Go Away?

Most forms of arthritis are long-term conditions. Physical therapy does not remove arthritis or reverse all structural changes within a joint. That does not mean nothing can improve. Pain, strength, mobility, endurance, balance, confidence, and everyday function can change even when arthritis itself remains present. The goal is to help you manage the condition while continuing to participate in your life.

When Should I Talk With My Doctor?

Not every painful joint is caused by arthritis. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have unexplained joint swelling, significant redness or warmth, fever, sudden severe pain, a recent injury, rapidly worsening symptoms, or other changes that concern you. Medical evaluation is particularly important when inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture, gout, or another condition may be involved. Physical therapy can then work alongside the appropriate medical treatment.

Arthritis Physical Therapy at Reform

Arthritis can change how you move, but it does not have to define what you are able to do. At Reform Physical Therapy, we focus on helping you build the strength, mobility, and confidence needed for the activities that matter to you. Maybe that means walking without constantly thinking about your knee. Maybe you want to get back on the golf course, return to the gym, hike with your family, work in your garden, or get up and down the stairs more comfortably. Your treatment should reflect those goals. Reform provides individualized orthopedic physical therapy at our clinics throughout Maine, with treatment designed around the person rather than simply the diagnosis.

Schedule an Evaluation

If arthritis is making it harder to move, exercise, work, or enjoy your normal activities, physical therapy may be able to help. Schedule an evaluation with Reform Physical Therapy to find out what is contributing to your limitations and what you can start doing about them.

Our goal is to help you keep moving and keep doing the things that matter to you.