Arthritis can be debilitating at times no matter what the type. Many people can get caught up in their diagnosis, feeling scared and hopeless about the future. What many people don’t know when they first get their diagnosis is that arthritis is manageable. While it is a lifelong condition, many people live happy, fulfilling lives with the proper care. There are many medications for psoriatic arthritis and your specialist will prescribe you one or more depending on your symptoms and how far your illness has progressed. While medicine is crucial, it cannot be done alone. Doctors recommend stretches for psoriatic arthritis to do daily for improved joint health. 

Physical Therapy and Arthritis

Arthritis has many symptoms. One of the most common and damaging is stiffness and swelling in the joints. Psoriatic arthritis causes less mobility in your joints and swelling which can lead to long-term pain and joint damage. Those experiencing stiffness, swelling, and pain need to take immediate action to counteract these symptoms. This is where stretches for psoriatic arthritis and physical therapy come into play. 

Physical therapy teaches proper exercises that can help you work out the stiffness without damaging your joints further. We want people to be able to perform everyday activities and live as normal a life as possible. Physical therapy can increase your joints’ range of motion and can build stronger muscles around your joints. Hiring a physical therapist can be beneficial, especially if your illness is further along. However, there are many resources to help you safely exercise your joints at home on your own. 

Stretches for Psoriatic Arthritis

When someone is suffering from joint pain, there are some exercises that your rheumatologist may recommend. These should be done daily, sometimes in multiple sets throughout the day. There are different stretches for psoriatic arthritis that can be utilized for every joint. You can find resources on these exercises on Advanced Rheumatology of Houston’s website here. The website covers exercises for your: 

• Hips
• Neck & Back
• Knees
• Feet & Ankles
• Hands & Wrists
• Elbows
• Shoulders

What is the best exercise for psoriatic arthritis? This question depends on your symptoms and is best answered by a trained rheumatologist or physical therapist. Set up an appointment with your doctor today and in the meantime, start practicing those stretches.

About Advanced Rheumatology of Houston

Dr.Brionez and her team have over 10 years of experience in rheumatology helping patients with rheumatic diseases manage their symptoms. We strive to ensure all of our patients live a happy, healthy life. The pain of a chronic illness can be debilitating but we can help our patients treat their symptoms and minimize their pain. We help by offering accurate diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan including a prescription medication plan. In cases where accessible treatments fail, we partner with leaders of scientific advancements, such as Amgen to offer research studies that test out new treatments that have the chance at relieving symptoms for our patients and others. To learn more about our practice or to set up an appointment, go here.