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.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that involves inflammation of the synovial lining of joints, causing swelling, pain, stiffness, and eventual erosion of the affected joints over time. Physical therapy plays a key role in helping patients with RA maintain muscle strength, flexibility, and joint range of motion as well as prevent long-term disabilities through a targeted exercise program. Physical therapy works together with medical drug treatments to improve the quality of life, optimize overall fitness and cardiovascular health, and maintain the ability to perform daily activities in those with rheumatoid arthritis.

Check out our September 2023 Newsletter, highlighting: debunking 6 myths about arthritis, physical therapy for an AC joint sprain, back-to-school backpack safety, and staff spotlight on our new PTA, Renee.

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.

Check out our January 2023 Newsletter, highlighting tips for managing arthritis this winter, wellness program update, winter donation thank you, and meniscus tear recovery with physical therapy.

Check out our 8 tips to manage arthritis this winter. Arthritis is a progressive chronic condition that involves inflammation, swelling, pain, and stiffness in one or more joints and is the leading cause of joint pain in the United States. Winter can exacerbate arthritic pain and stiffness due to the colder temperatures, precipitation, and decreased barometric pressure. Maintaining a regular exercise routine in winter is a key component of managing your arthritis, increasing your mobility, and decreasing your pain and stiffness.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the soft tissue around joints, causing joint inflammation and limiting joint function. Physical therapy and exercise can alleviate symptoms and improve function and quality of life in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. A physical therapist can design a custom treatment and exercise treatment to help RA patients maintain fitness, increase strength to support affected joints, improve range of motion, and maintain the ability to do daily activities.

Chronic pain affects up to 28% of American adults each year and is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care. Chronic pain develops when the nerves that communicate pain to the brain become hypersensitive, causing the brain to perceive that area of the body as a potential threat and therefore painful beyond the normal healing timeframe. Exercise is an effective way to manage chronic pain by building muscle strength, reducing pain sensitivity, and improving mobility through targeted strengthening, low-impact aerobic exercise, stretching, and aquatic therapy.

Check out our August 2022 Newsletter, which highlights physical therapy for shoulder osteoarthritis, back-to-school ergonomics, how to improve your golf swing, and 12 tips for running in the heat.

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.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the soft tissues around joints, causing joint inflammation and pain and limiting joint function. Early detection of the condition and treatment is key, which includes drug therapies and targeted exercise. Physical therapists help rheumatoid arthritis patients manage pain and improve muscle strength and joint function and range of motion through a therapeutic aerobic and strengthening exercise program.

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.

Is it Fact or Fiction? Our latest blog debunks the 10 most common myths about knee pain. Knee pain is one of the most common orthopedic conditions that lead patients to seek physical therapy. Physical therapy provides a safe, non-invasive, and effective way to reduce knee pain, improve mobility and strength, and restore function to the knee.

September is #PainAwarenessMonth. While pain is an important survival mechanism to protect an injured area of the body, chronic pain is persistent pain that lasts beyond the normal healing process. Chronic pain develops when the nerves that communicate pain to the brain become hypersensitive, causing the brain to perceive that area of the body as a potential threat and therefore painful. Physical therapy offers safe and effective treatment for chronic pain, reducing pain and improving mobility, strength, and function.

Arthritis is the leading cause of joint pain in the United States. Arthritis is a chronic, progressive condition causing inflammation, swelling, pain, and stiffness in joints. Whether you are dealing with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriatic arthritis, summer heat and weather can affect your arthritis and worsen symptoms. Check out our tips to handle the heat and manage arthritis during summer!

Arthritis is one of the leading causes of joint pain among American adults. Arthritis is a chronic, progressive condition that causes inflammation, swelling, pain, and stiffness in one or more joints. Exercise is one of the best ways to improve arthritic pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion in your joints. A physical therapist can develop a customized and effective exercise program to improve your mobility and function and decrease pain safely.

Check out our January 2021 newsletter covering tips to manage arthritis during winter, snow shoveling safety, how to set SMART health goals in 2021, the danger of deconditioning in seniors during the Covid-19 pandemic, and changes to the clinic’s wellness program this winter.