In honor of National Nutrition Month in March, we at Mangiarelli Rehabilitation recognize the role that nutrition can play in managing osteoarthritis symptoms. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and involves the breakdown of cartilage around joints, causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. A balanced, nutritious eating plan that includes whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, and is rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids provides the body the nutrients it needs to prevent further damage to joints and improve OA symptoms. Combining targeted physical therapy with a whole-food nutritious diet can improve osteoarthritic symptoms and enhance OA patients’ overall quality of life, function, and mobility.

Arthritis, a chronic, progressive condition characterized by inflammation of the joints, is the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting more than 50 million people. Physical therapists can help reduce arthritic symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and create a customized, comprehensive program to help arthritis patients move safely and improve function, strength, and range of motion in the affected joints. However, there are numerous misconceptions about who is affected by arthritis and how to treat it effectively. Check out our post debunking 6 myths about arthritis!

Physical therapy can help those with hip osteoarthritis manage arthritic pain and regain function, strength, and mobility in the hip through therapeutic exercise and manual therapy. Osteoarthritis of the hip causes the protective cartilage lining the bones of the hip joint to progressively break down, causing the bones to rub against each other and leading to intense pain and inflammation within the hip joint.

Shoulder osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that lines the shoulder joint is worn or torn away, causing pain, swelling, and reduced function in the shoulder. Shoulder osteoarthritis most commonly affects those over age 50, particularly older women. Physical therapy can help those with shoulder osteoarthritis manage and decrease pain, prevent progression of the disease, and restore movement and function in the shoulder. If the osteoarthritis is severe, surgery may be recommended to restore function followed by intensive rehabilitative care.

Check out our infographic on physical therapy for osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in which cartilage around joints breaks down, causing pain and inflammation. Physical therapy offers a safe and effective treatment option for those with osteoarthritis, helping patients manage pain, improve function and mobility, and slow the progression of the disease.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting the spine, often due to age-related wear and tear and mechanical changes in the spinal discs. Spinal osteoarthritis leads to pain in the back and neck and stiffness and loss of mobility in the spine. Physical therapy can help to reduce spinal osteoarthritis symptoms, slow progression of the disease, and instruct patients how to safely exercise.

On World Arthritis Day, we are explaining physical therapy treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by knee pain, stiffness, and decreased strength. Physical therapists can help to reduce knee osteoarthritis symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and create a customized, comprehensive program of exercise and manual therapy to help knee osteoarthritis patients move safely and improve function, strength, and range of motion in the knee joint.

Knee pain is one of the most common orthopedic conditions that physical therapists treat and a frequent cause of chronic pain. Knee pain can restrict movement, limit muscle control in the affected leg, and reduce the strength and function of the muscles that support the knee. Physical therapists can effectively treat and address all types of knee pain, easing pain and restoring movement and function. On the blog, Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist Bobby Mangiarelli demonstrates physical therapy exercises to relieve osteoarthritis knee pain.