Can Physiotherapists Help with arthritis?
Let’s talk about arthritis.
If you’ve ever felt like your joints are 50 years older than the rest of you, you’re not alone.
Arthritis is one of the most common causes of pain and stiffness, affecting millions of people worldwide. And yet, the usual advice sounds like something from a bad horror movie:
👉 “Just rest.”
👉 “Avoid using that joint too much.”
👉 “It’s just part of aging.”
🚨 WRONG. 🚨
Avoiding movement doesn’t help. In fact, it often makes arthritis worse.
This is where Physiotherapists come in. And spoiler alert: we CAN help.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
What is Arthritis, Really?
Arthritis isn’t just one thing. It’s an umbrella term for over 100 different joint conditions. But the two most common types are:
1️⃣ Osteoarthritis (OA): Wear and tear arthritis. Over time, the protective cartilage in your joints breaks down, leading to stiffness and pain. This is common in knees, hips, and hands.
2️⃣ Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): An autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks your joints, causing inflammation, pain, and damage over time.
Both types can make simple movements feel like a chore, but here’s the good news: movement is one of the best treatments.
How Does Physiotherapy Help Arthritis?
Many people assume arthritis means they should move less.
But research shows the opposite is true…
🔹 Study #1: A systematic review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that exercise reduces pain and improves function in osteoarthritis—even more than painkillers in some cases. (Fransen et al., 2015)
🔹 Study #2: The American College of Rheumatology recommends physiotherapy-led exercise programs as a first-line treatment for knee and hip osteoarthritis. (Kolasinski et al., 2020)
Translation? Movement is medicine.
And Physiotherapists are movement specialists.
Here’s how we help:
✅ Strength Training: Building stronger muscles reduces stress on your joints, making movement smoother and less painful.
✅ Mobility & Flexibility Work: If your joints feel stiff as a rusty hinge, targeted mobility work helps keep them moving without pain.
✅ Joint Protection Strategies: We teach you how to move better so you’re not grinding your joints into oblivion.
✅ Pain Management Techniques: We use hands-on therapy, movement re-education, and graded exposure to help you move with confidence.
"But My Doctor Told Me to Rest"
Look, resting forever is NOT the answer.
Yes, if your joint is swollen and inflamed, some short-term rest may help. But long-term inactivity? That just leads to:
❌ Weaker muscles (which puts MORE stress on your joints)
❌ Stiffer joints (making movement even harder)
❌ More pain (because your body isn’t getting the signals it needs to adapt)
Think of your joints like a car sitting in the garage for too long. Stop using them, and they don’t get “saved”—they rust.
The best way to manage arthritis isn’t avoiding movement. It’s moving smarter.
The Bottom Line
👉 Physiotherapy is one of the BEST treatments for arthritis.
👉 Exercise helps reduce pain, improve function, and keep you moving.
👉 Resting too much makes things WORSE.
So, if you’ve been waiting for a sign to start moving again—this is it.
Want to keep living your life without arthritis taking over?
Book In today using the link below!
