If youve been diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or another type of arthritic disease, your physician will no doubt establish a treatment plan centering on a rigorous schedule of medicinal therapy. In addition, your physician is apt to recommend, if not prescribe, an appointment with a physical therapist. "The role of medication is to reduce the inflammation in your joints, and it can usually accomplish that, at least partially," explains Jeanne Markusic, MS, PT, a clinical specialist in physical therapy at Cleveland Clinics Spine Center, "The physical therapists goal, on the other hand, is to increase the patients strength and flexibility and to minimize abnormal stress on the affected body part."
To continue reading this article or issue you must be a paid subscriber.
Sign in
