Four tips for living with back arthritis in Caledonia, MI

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common issues people develop as they age. This condition occurs when the joints wear out over time, and for this reason, it’s also called degenerative arthritis. One of the joints where osteoarthritis can occur is the facet joints in the spine. People living with arthritis in their back in Caledonia, Michigan, can face many difficulties every day. Here are four tips that can make living with back arthritis easier: 

1.   Exercise regularly

Although you might think that arthritis will be less painful if you don’t move, that’s not usually the case. Lack of movement actually tends to create more pain and difficulty moving for many people. This is why patients with back arthritis need to move a little every day. Moving around can help lubricate the arthritis back joints, and you can find helpful exercises by talking to your doctor or physical therapist. 

2.   Learn your limitations

Just because some movement is good for back arthritis doesn’t mean you need to run a marathon. In fact, moving too much can be just as bad as not moving at all. You can avoid moving too much by paying attention to the signals your body is sending you. Stop and rest if you start to feel more pain or you’re getting tired. Also, you should pay attention to how far you can push yourself before you need a break, and this can help you learn your movement limitations. 

3.   Eat healthy

One factor that’s often overlooked when living with back arthritis is eating a healthy diet. However, eating healthy can be very helpful for your condition. For one thing, there are foods that can help reduce inflammation in your back that leads to pain, and healthy eating can also make it easier to control your weight. This is especially important for arthritis patients who aren’t able to move around much. 

4.   Be an active partner in your treatment

Living with arthritis in your back can also be much less difficult if you’re an active partner in your treatment. Being active in this way can help deal with the depression that arthritis can cause, because you’ll know that you’re doing everything you can to live the best possible life with your condition. So, ask your doctor or physical therapist questions. Talk to them about new treatment options you’ve seen. These are just a few ways you can be active in your treatment. 

Advent Physical Therapy in Caledonia, MI, can help treat arthritis in the back

Advent Physical Therapy has a clinic in Caledonia, and our team here is ready to partner with you to treat your back arthritis. We offer free screenings that can help us pinpoint ways to make your arthritis easier to live with. Our team can also work with you to build an individualized treatment plan, and we may suggest including beneficial therapy methods in your plan like: 

• Manual therapy
• Balance training
• Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
• Kinesiology taping
• Therapeutic exercise

Don’t wait to start getting our help with your back arthritis. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.