What does arthritis pain feel like?

An aching sensation deep inside your joint. A sharp or burning pain when you move. These are just a few of the answers to the question “What does arthritis pain feel like?”

Arthritis pain is one of the most common forms of pain, since about 23% of U.S. adults have some type of arthritis. What your arthritis pain feels like can be affected by a wide range of factors, and physical therapists can help you identify the factors that are affecting your pain. They can help you find effective treatment options for arthritis pain, too. 

Factors that can affect your arthritis pain

What your arthritis pain feels like often depends on underlying factors that are affecting your joints. These factors can have subtle effects on your pain, but some of them can also substantially affect your arthritis symptoms. The factors that affect arthritis pain tend to differ from person to person. But some factors that commonly affect arthritis pain include: 

1. Remaining in one position for a long period of time — Arthritic joints tend to stiffen up if they remain in one position for a while, such as when you’re sleeping. This can lead to more pain when you first start moving again. 

2. How much you exercise — Moving around too much can trigger an increase in arthritis pain, yet not exercising enough can weaken joint-supporting muscles and also boost your pain.

3. Poor posture — Sitting or standing with poor posture can often increase arthritis pain. After all, poor posture tends to put more pressure on your joints. 

How can physical therapists address your arthritis pain?

A physical therapist can help you when what your arthritis pain feels like changes. This is possible thanks to treatment techniques like: 

• Joint mobilization intended to increase joint flexibility and range of motion. 

• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) designed to break up scar tissue that’s contributing to joint misalignment and pain. 

• Therapeutic exercises that can help improve strength in muscles supporting your arthritis joints. 

Advent Physical Therapy offers effective treatment for arthritis pain

You can get help from a physical therapist no matter what your arthritis pain feels like. Our team at Advent PT is ready to help you begin treating your arthritis as soon as you begin to feel pain. We can do a free screening to help identify factors and issues that may be increasing your pain. Furthermore, our physical therapists are adept at creating personalized therapy plans designed to offer benefits like: 

• Reducing joint pain.
• Improving joint flexibility.
• Increasing your ability to do normal daily tasks.

We can even help you treat your pain from home if you sign up for an at-home care or virtual therapy session with our therapists. 

Contact our team today for more information about our arthritis treatment services or to schedule an initial appointment.