“Arthritis” is a term that refers to joint pain and disability, although it is not a condition in and of itself. There are over 100 types of arthritis and related conditions that fall under 4 general categories: degenerative, inflammatory, infectious, and metabolic arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common arthritic condition which occurs when cartilage, the slick cushioning on joint surfaces, breaks down leading to abnormal friction of the joint during movement. This friction can lead to swelling and inflammation which becomes a source of pain and disability for those affected by it. Fortunately we have some level of control over this inevitable process.

As the saying goes, “motion is lotion for the joints”, but it is well known that previous injuries and moving inefficiently will actually hasten the wear and tear on our joints. This is complicated by the fact that our bodies are asymmetrical, and this causes the vast majority of people to adopt incorrect movement patterns from an early age that perpetuate strain on joints through muscle hypertonicity, inhibitions, and asymmetrical patterns of muscle activity.

It’s ironic that ‘motion is lotion for the joints’ but the more active you are, the stronger incorrect movement patterns become.

So where do we start? We need to move but we want to be sure the movement we do is working for us and not against us. Our therapists are specifically trained to identify these common movement patterns and can provide valuable insights into other factors that may be contributing to your pain and dysfunction such as environmental and dietary considerations. At SIMIO Physical Therapy you will learn how to correct these movement patterns with exercises that decrease unwanted muscle hypertonicity through muscle inhibition, to restore normal muscle balance and joint stability in all planes of motion. Due to the strength and size advantage of our right diaphragm, most people will start to develop movement patterns that favor being on our right side. Therefore the exercises we perform need to be specifically tailored to increasing your ability to move reciprocally, side to side, with the ability to maintain good respiratory function on either side. When we can properly engage and disengage muscles with appropriate timing as we move side to side, joints can perform their normal function with full support from the surrounding muscles. This is necessary whether you are old or young, fit or unfit, and is most certainly necessary to help avoid injury or the perpetuation of joint degeneration.