Arthritis Treatment
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Arthritis is defined as joint inflammation. There are many types of arthritis, which may affect one or more joints in the body. Most joints have the potential to develop arthritis, which causes swelling, stiffness, decreased ability to move, pain, and possible deformity.
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, gets worse over time and is caused by trauma or a defect in the smooth, white tissue covering the ends of bones where they come together to form joints. Osteoarthritis affects the large weight-bearing joints such as the shoulders, knees, hips, and spine, and the small joints of the hands, most commonly the thumbs. |
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Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disorder affecting any part of the body, including large or small joints, the heart and circulatory system, the lungs and the muscles used for breathing, and the digestive system. Joint replacement surgery is often recommended for people with arthritis when they are no longer able to do the things they want and need to do.
Patients receiving occupational therapy services are assisted to live life to its fullest by maximizing their ability to participate in activities (occupations), promoting safety, and enhancing quality of life.
At The OT Clinic our client centred approach addresses all aspects of management within the ambit of rehabilitation. Beginning with education, the consultation includes recommendations for joint protection strategies, energy conservation, work simplification techniques, therapeutic exercise and splinting as well as recommendations for adaptive equipment or assistive devices.
Patients are evaluated and a problem list established. Therapy can include:
Patients receiving occupational therapy services are assisted to live life to its fullest by maximizing their ability to participate in activities (occupations), promoting safety, and enhancing quality of life.
At The OT Clinic our client centred approach addresses all aspects of management within the ambit of rehabilitation. Beginning with education, the consultation includes recommendations for joint protection strategies, energy conservation, work simplification techniques, therapeutic exercise and splinting as well as recommendations for adaptive equipment or assistive devices.
Patients are evaluated and a problem list established. Therapy can include:
- Recommendation of self-help aids
- Fabrication of adaptive equipment
- Recommendation for assistive devices
- Recommendation of modifications to the environment
- Explore and develop leisure activities that do not aggravate the activity
- Maintain or increase muscle, grip, pinch strength through performance of activities of daily living (ADLs) and selected exercises and activities as needed
- Maintain or increase manipulative and dexterity skills
- Provide custom splinting to maintain good alignment/relieve pain as needed
- Provide education on joint protection
- Provide education on energy conservation and work simplification
- Offer post joint replacement consultations for equipment recommendations and training, Activities of Daily Living and mobility training