At Solutions Physical Therapy, we understand how important it is for you to stay active, move well, and live life to the fullest. However, as you age, challenges like knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) can get in the way, making movement difficult and impacting overall health. You may think should you get a joint replacement.
More Than Just Pain
Osteoarthritis isn’t just about joint pain; it has a much larger impact on your quality of life. Reduced movement levels make it more challenging to maintain a healthy weight, stay strong, and support cardiovascular health.
One of the most concerning effects of reduced activity is a decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness—a key measure of your heart health. In 2016, the American Heart Association issued a statement recognizing CRF as a potentially stronger predictor of mortality than established risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. The chart below shows survival probability by age for people in different groups of fitness.
Without regular exercise, it’s challenging to get out of the low or below average group, increasing your risk of death at any age.
Physical Therapy Can Help You Manage OA and Stay Active
Here’s the good news: you can take control of OA and improve your activity level with the help of a physical therapist. Supervised exercise is not only safe but also incredibly effective for managing OA symptoms. Working with a physical therapist means you’ll get a personalized exercise plan that targets your needs, strengthens the muscles around your joints, and improves your range of motion. The right exercises can reduce your pain and help you get back to the activities you enjoy.
At Solutions Physical Therapy, we focus on empowering you to stay active, not just to manage OA symptoms but but to regain you the function you need to stay fit and healthy. With our support, you’ll feel more capable and confident in taking on everyday activities and beyond.
When Physical Therapy Isn’t Enough: Consider Joint Replacement as an Option
For some, physical therapy alone may not fully relieve OA symptoms. If this becomes the case, know that joint replacement surgery is an option that can dramatically improve your quality of life. In this study, people experienced a median increase of three times the activity level they had before their joint replacement surgery, opening doors to greater mobility, independence, and improved cardiovascular health.
| Before Total Hip Replacement | After Total Hip Replacement | Before Total Knee Replacement | After Total Knee Replacement | |
| Median Minutes of Physical Activity per week | 50 | 150 | 58 | 150 |
If you’re struggling with arthritis or undergoing joint replacement, we can help you!
At Solutions Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine in Alexandria, Arlington, and Springfield, VA, our physical therapists are experts at helping people overcome arthritis as well as recover from joint replacement surgery.
Call us at 703-299-3111, or click here to request an appointment.
A member of our team will schedule you an appointment with one of our expert physical therapists.
Don’t let arthritis stop you! If you’re
- Missing out on spending time with friends and family
- Avoiding the gym because you’re hurting when you’re done
A Solutions physical therapist can:
- Build you a plan to progressively return to the gym
- Increase your strength and endurance so you can spend time with friends without pain
- Get you back to living your normal life
If you want an expert to listen to your unique problems and guide you to success, a Solutions Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine physical therapist in Alexandria, Arlington, or Springfield, VA will create a plan specifically for you.
You’ll feel confident that you have the knowledge and ability to stay active and do all the things you want.
Call us at 703-299-3111, or click here to schedule your appointment and get started.
Working to keep you living your best life,
The Solutions Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Team
