Arthritis

What is Arthritis and Stenosis?

As we age, the wear and tear on our necks over time can lead to bony changes in the joints and bones (vertebrae) of the neck. These bony changes, along with poor posture, can cause the formation of bone spurs that can rub and irritate surrounding tissue.

The bone spurs can form the holes on the side of the neck where the nerves exit out (foraminal stenosis) or in the central spinal cord canal (central stenosis). It can cause a variety of symptoms from pain to numbness and tingling in the arms. In severe cases of central canal stenosis, which affects the spinal cord, poor balance, pain in the legs, and difficulty with walking can occur.

People with osteoarthritis in the neck can experience chronic pain, joint stiffness, and limited range of motion when turning their head and looking up. Pain may be worse in the morning or after prolonged periods of inactivity.

People with rheumatoid arthritis can suffer from neck pain. It is very important for people with rheumatoid arthritis to maintain strength in the postural muscles of the neck, shoulders, and upper back.

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Maintaining strength in these areas is critical because a very important ligament in the upper neck often weakens with rheumatoid arthritis and can be a serious health risk if injured.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and develops when the articular cartilage within a joint gradually changes over time, often in association with aging, previous injury, or sustained mechanical loading. It most commonly affects the knees, hips, hands, and lumbar spine. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the synovial lining of the joints, causing inflammation, pain, and joint changes that can affect the fingers, wrists, knees, and other joints simultaneously. While the underlying mechanisms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis differ significantly, physical therapy plays an important supportive role in managing symptoms and maintaining function in both conditions.

Physical therapy at Bay State Physical Therapy can certainly help with knee, hip, and rheumatoid arthritis pain. In fact, progressive, appropriately dosed movement is one of the most evidence-supported strategies for managing all three conditions. For knee and hip osteoarthritis, strengthening the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteal muscles reduces compressive load on the affected joint surfaces and improves walking tolerance. For rheumatoid arthritis, carefully dosed exercise maintains joint mobility, reduces fatigue, and supports function during both active and remission phases. A physical therapist will calibrate your program to your current capacity so that exercise supports your joints rather than overloading them.

Knee osteoarthritis and hip osteoarthritis are the most prevalent forms of osteoarthritis, followed by hand osteoarthritis and lumbar spine osteoarthritis, as these joints bear significant mechanical load over a lifetime. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect smaller joints first, particularly the fingers, wrists, and toes, before potentially involving larger joints like the knees and shoulders. Regardless of whether you are managing knee osteoarthritis, hip osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis, physical therapy with Bay State Physical Therapy can help maintain range of motion, reduce stiffness, and support your ability to stay active.

The most beneficial exercise program for knee, hip, and rheumatoid arthritis combines low-impact aerobic activity, targeted strength training, and mobility work tailored to the affected joints and your current activity tolerance. Walking, cycling, swimming, and aquatic therapy are particularly well-supported options for knee and hip osteoarthritis because they build joint-supporting strength while minimizing compressive forces. For rheumatoid arthritis, exercise timing relative to disease flares and fatigue levels requires individualized guidance, which a physical therapist can provide.

Physical therapy for knee osteoarthritis, hip osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis encompasses far more than exercise alone. Manual therapy techniques help maintain joint mobility and reduce the morning stiffness commonly associated with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Your physical therapist can also guide joint protection strategies specific to knee osteoarthritis or hand rheumatoid arthritis, recommend adaptive equipment or bracing where appropriate, and provide education on activity pacing to help you remain active without provoking prolonged symptom flares.

How physical therapy helps

Physical therapy is very important in the treatment of arthritis in the neck. Our physical therapists assess your range of motion, joint mobility, strength, and posture. From there, they determine the best plan of treatment, which may involve hands-on therapy to restore joint and soft tissue mobility as well as exercises for strength, range of motion, and postural retraining.

Our physical therapists work with you to restore natural movement, eliminate pain, and get you back to enjoying your daily activities.

Call Bay State Physical Therapy today to discover how we can help relieve your neck pain!