Cascade Hand & Orthopedic Rehab has the Solution to Your Arthritis Pain
Do you struggle with everyday activities due to the pain and inflammation of arthritis? Know that you aren’t alone–arthritis affects more than 54 million adults in the United States. While arthritis has no cure, you can manage your symptoms, and hand therapy at Cascade Hand & Orthopedic Rehab in Fort Myers, FL can help.
The term “arthritis” covers over 100 different conditions; however, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common. Osteoarthritis affects over 30 million Americans, while rheumatoid arthritis impacts nearly 1.5 million.
Most people’s first symptoms of arthritis are achy, stiff joints. As the condition progresses, it begins to cause pain, inflammation, and reduced mobility. Arthritis can affect any of your joints, although the most commonly affected are the knees, hips, hands, and spine.
Arthritis, particularly at advanced stages, can severely limit your overall function and independence. Limitations such as poor mobility, reduced grip strength, and diminished fine motor skills will make it challenging to carry out simple, everyday tasks. Opening a jar, climbing stairs, and even getting out of bed can become more difficult.
Hand therapy in Fort Myers, FL at Cascade Hand & Orthopedic Rehab offers a comprehensive, evidence-based solution to help manage arthritis pain and improve mobility. Our highly skilled hand therapists will develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs, incorporating targeted exercises, manual therapy, and education on joint protection strategies.
We take a result-oriented approach to care, which means we focus on helping you see results. Too often, people worry they will worsen their condition if they do anything that hurts, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Our team will provide scientifically-backed methods to help you improve your mobility, strength, balance, and coordination–so you can resume your active life.
The Most Common Types of Arthritis
With over 100 different types of arthritis, it can be overwhelming to navigate treatment options. Fortunately, our hand therapists in Fort Myers, FL are skilled in treating all types of arthritis. Here are some of the common ones treated by our experts:
Osteoarthritis (OA)
OA is by far the most common type of arthritis in the United States. A degenerative joint disease caused by the gradual breakdown of cartilage, it commonly impacts the knees, hips, hands, and spine, leading to symptoms like joint pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
RA is an autoimmune disorder occurring when the body’s immune system attacks joint tissue, leading to pain, swelling, and potential joint deformity. It often affects the small joints in the hands and feet, hindering daily activities like walking and grasping objects.
Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA
Affecting up to 30% of individuals with psoriasis, PsA is an inflammatory form of arthritis that can lead to joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. PsA often affects the hands, feet, knees, and spine, causing functional limitations in daily activities.
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
A form of inflammatory arthritis affecting the spine, AS can cause pain and stiffness in the lower back, hips, and shoulders. Over time, this chronic condition causes the spine to fuse leading to a hunched posture, significantly affecting mobility and quality of life.
Every form of arthritis has its own particular symptoms and treatment requirements. Our hand therapists are highly skilled in addressing those unique challenges to ensure you successfully manage your condition and regain function. Through targeted exercise, manual therapy, and more, we’ll help you find the relief you need.
Searching for arthritis relief? Try hand therapy!
Finding relief from arthritis pain and reclaiming your active lifestyle is possible with the help of our evidence-based approach to hand therapy. We use the latest research and proven techniques to help you reduce pain, improve mobility, and improve your overall quality of life.
At your initial consultation in Fort Myers, FL, we’ll conduct an in-depth evaluation of your arthritis. We’ll discuss your symptoms and review your medical history to understand your condition’s progression and specific challenges. In addition, we use a hands-on assessment to identify areas of pain, stiffness, and limited mobility.
Next, we’ll perform joint range of motion tests to evaluate joint health, strength tests to gauge muscle function, and movement screens to identify compensatory patterns or imbalances that might be causing additional impairments. And for those with arthritis in their lower extremities, we’ll perform a gait analysis to shed light on walking-related issues.
The reason we perform such a comprehensive assessment is so that we can develop a treatment plan customized to your exact needs. We’ll pull from several different treatment approaches, including the following:
- Therapeutic Exercise: Movement is one of the best ways to manage arthritis. Our customized exercise programs may include targeted mobility work, strengthening, and low-impact aerobic activities.
- Manual Therapy: Hand therapists use hands-on techniques such as joint and soft tissue mobilization to alleviate pain, reduce stiffness, and enhance joint mobility.
- Modalities: We offer pain management techniques, such as hot pads, electrical stimulation, and laser therapy, to improve blood flow and alleviate pain, helping prepare your body for exercise or manual therapy.
- Braces: Braces are orthopedic devices designed to support, stabilize, and protect a joint or body part and can help manage arthritis.
- Assistive Devices: If needed, we may recommend assistive devices (such as walkers, canes, or hiking sticks) to help patients improve mobility, maintain balance, ensure safety, and gain independence.
- Patient Education: We’ll help you optimize your treatment by providing you with protection strategies, information about proper body mechanics, and at-home exercises so you can see the results you’re looking for.
No matter which type of arthritis you’re living with, our expert hand therapists will help you manage your condition and alleviate your symptoms with our evidence-based approach to care.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!