Did you know that arthritis is the leading cause of disability in adults in the U.S.? I’m sure Australia isn’t far behind. By 2040 they estimate 78 million people will be affected by arthritis. To see more statistics visit the Arthritis Foundation’s page. If you or a loved one is being affected by arthritis, you’re not alone and rest assured there is plenty that can be done about it.
When one of our Myotherapy Practitioner was diagnosed with arthritis, she made it her goal to figure out how to become pain free. Through extra study and research she has now developed an approach that works for her and her customers. She discovered even when arthritis looks bad on a scan that treatment and movement therapy can really alleviate pain. She has shared this approach with the staff at Waverley Myotherapy so we can all assist you with pain or movement issues related to arthritis. A lot of this stuff you can do at home once you know how. Self management is very empowering when you know what works for you.
The video below is a demonstration of a knee exercise that may be used as part of our approach to arthritis of the knee. To read more about our practitioners click here or go straight to our online bookings page. You can also call our friendly reception staff on (03) 9888 3473.
Book an Appoinment3 tips to help get you started…
Tip 1: Motion is lotion – Find a movement that doesn’t hurt and do a little bit often. If walking is off the cards, maybe a stationary bike can get you moving. Or if you can’t lift your arm simply bend down and touch your toes – your shoulder will move through the same range of movement but gravity will be helping you rather than working against you.
Tip 2: Hydration is key – The bodies key nutrients are able to travel around our body and get to the areas they need when our cells are hydrated and moving freely through our system. There’s no point in taking good quality supplements if you’re not staying hydrated. 2-3L per day is optimal. You do get some hydration from soups, fruits and vegetables and herbal teas but fresh, room temperature water is the best!
Tip 3: Focus on what you can do – Research shows that people who practice gratitude seem to have less pain, we think that is pretty cool! So focus on things that you can do and all the positives in your life, no matter how small you think they are. It may even be worth starting a gratitude journal where you write down 5-10 gratitude points each day. Doing your gratitude in the morning, even before getting out of bed can really set you up for a good day!
Common Arthritis Complaints We Can Help You With…
Knee arthritis that is causing pain when walking, up/down stairs and squatting or kneeling down.
Hand arthritis that is causing difficulty with a lot of daily tasks.
Book an AppoinmentLow back degeneration (arthritis) which is causing pain especially first thing in the morning.
Hip arthritis that is causing pain and preventing lying on the side at night, difficulty getting in and out of the car or walking up/down stairs.
Neck degenerative changes causing pain when head checking in the car and pain when trying to get to sleep with increased stiffness and pain in the morning.
Shoulder pain that is preventing from reaching into cupboards properly, hanging out the washing or lying on your side at night.
What else you need to know?
Can I use my private health insurance? Yes! Myotherapy is covered by most private health fund insurers and we have HICAPs available so you only pay the gap on the day. To see a list of health funds that support Myotherapy, click here.
What does Myotherapy entail? Myotherapy is the assessment, treatment and management of musculoskeletal complaints such as arthritis. As discussed, if you book with Kelly, she has a special program to help with arthritis specifically.
What qualifications do you have? Most of our practitioners hold a degree qualification in Myotherapy and extra certificates in movement therapies and exercise such as the McKenzie Technique or Pilates. We all love learning new things and are always adding something new to our repertoire of skills.
Book an Appoinment or call us on (03) 9888 3473
HAVE A QUESTION? BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY PHONE APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF OUR DEGREE QUALIFIED MYOTHERAPISTS. SIMPLY FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW AND WE WILL GET IN TOUCH.