KORT News Release:
 

EXERCISE KEY TO MANAGING ARTHRITIS

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Today one in five Americans or approximately 46 million people are living with the pain of arthritis; and arthritis remains the leading cause of chronic disability in the elderly. Recently, the FDA and the Arthritis Foundation recommended lowering dosages of the pain relieving drug acetaminophen to reduce deadly overdoses and liver damage. This news left arthritis suffers looking for alternative ways to control pain and maintain their daily activities.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, aerobic exercise, such as walking, is an important tool in managing arthritis. Physical activity is a natural pain reliever and improves mobility. Regular, moderate aerobic exercise just 30 minutes daily, even 10 to 15 minutes at a time, offers many benefits to people with arthritis including: 
• Reduced joint pain and stiffness
• Improved mobility
• Reduced fatigue
• Increased flexibility and endurance
• Enhanced overall health and fitness by giving you more energy, helping you sleep better, controlling your weight, decreasing depression and raising self-esteem
• Stronger muscles around the joints
• Decreased risk of other health problems, such as osteoporosis and heart disease
Manual physical therapy and therapeutic strengthening exercises are also primary components in the healthcare management of patients with arthritis, said KORT clinic director Tim Barnett, PT,DPT,OCS. 
“Physical and occupational therapists perform manual therapy techniques and teach strengthening exercises, joint protection, and energy conservation. These customized regimens help people living with arthritis to manage their condition long-term with safe home exercise programs,” said Barnett. “Patients are amazed at the improvements in their lifestyle and how a little mobility and exercise can help them return to activities they may have given up because they were too painful.”

Barnett suggests that patients reluctant to exercise because of pain can begin with aquatic therapy and water exercise programs.

“Aquatic therapy programs take advantage of the natural resistance and buoyancy of water to help patients build muscle strength and flexibility in an almost weightless environment,” said Barnett.

According to Barnett, the water’s resistance can provide the same type of conditioning as using weights in the gym. This combination of resistance and buoyancy allows patients who find it too difficult and painful to exercise on land, the ability to exercise more intensely in the water.  This allows for an easier and eventual progression to a land-based exercise program, which mimics real life activities, he said.

Barnett also recommends before beginning any exercise program, patients should consult a medical professional.

Locally managed and operated, Kentucky Orthopedic Rehab Team (KORT) is an outpatient physical and occupational therapy company that provides sports medicine to local high schools and colleges. KORT athletic trainers provide injury prevention and care, returning athletes to play as quickly and safely as possible. With more than 20 years experience in the Physical Therapy Industry, KORT operates over 35 clinics throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana, with more board-certified specialists than any other physical therapy provider in Kentucky. For more information visit www.kort.com

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