Physical therapy is very important in the treatment of osteoarthritis and should preferably be done every day, with rest on weekends, but when this is not possible, it is recommended to do physiotherapy at least 3 times a week.
The resources used by the physical therapist may vary depending on the complaint and the patient’s abilities, so each person must be personally valued by a physical therapist who will tell you what each person needs to recover.
Some options that may be useful include
Ice or thermal bags are some of the treatment options to reduce pain and inflammation, when there are inflammatory signs cold compresses are the best option because they reduce pain, inflammation and muscle spasms, cryotherapy can be applied 3 to 4 times a day, for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Ice should not come into direct contact with the skin and should be wrapped in a thin cloth or sheets of paper towels, for example. It is normal for the area to be a little whitish at first and the feeling of less pain occurs after about 7 to 12 minutes.
Find out when it’s best to use ice or heat by clicking here.
The use of devices such as voltage, ultrasound, short wave, laser and magnetotherapy can be useful but should not be used at the same time. Iontophagic medication may be indicated to facilitate the penetration of medications at the site of pain and application time can vary between 10 and 45 minutes. Ultrasound should be done especially after the use of ice to have more effect and the magnetron may be indicated in case of spinal osteoarthritis as it aids in the regeneration of affected tissues.
Discover the main benefits of magnetotherapy
Manual techniques such as massages and joint movements are of great importance to keep the joints properly irrigated and aligned, they can be practiced both at the beginning and end of each session, but never after using the cold, mobilization should be performed for approximately 3 minutes in each joint so that the body is stimulated enough to produce more synovial fluid and maintain intraarticular space.
Physical therapy includes exercises that should be done when there is less pain. Building muscle is an integral part of treatment to help keep the joint firm, improve balance and muscle tone, but be careful when choosing strength because you cannot force the joint. Hydrotherapy and exercises with weights of 0. 5 and 1 kg are generally accepted by most patients, but initially the exercises should be performed in the following order of progression:
After discharge, the person can perform other exercises such as clinical pilates and hydrotherapy to maintain muscle strength, thus avoiding the recurrence of pain caused by osteoarthritis.
In addition to these exercises, stretching increases flexibility and is recommended in all physical therapy sessions.
Physical therapy should be performed for 3 to 6 months, but if treatment does not provide the expected benefits, surgery to place a prosthesis in the affected joint is recommended, requiring additional physical therapy sessions for a few weeks after surgery.