Fall Prevention Magazine First Quarter WHAT CAN THERAPY 13 DO for YOU?
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First Quarter 2021 | Issue 13 UNDERSTANDING T H E M O S T COMMON TYPES OF ARTHRITIS NAVIGATING THE Gain an understanding of the most CARE HIGHWAY common types of arthritis, their Knowing your next destination on the care symptoms, and treatments highway will help you make informed decisions and be your own best advocate STAY UPRIGHT AND UPLIFTED Learn about common arthritis dianoses and how they contribute to your fall risk THIS ISSUE 04 EDITOR'S NOTE 05 UNDERSTANDING THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF ARTHRITIS 08 STAYING UPRIGHT AND UPLIFTED NAVIGATING THE 11 CARE HIGHWAY Fall Prevention Magazine First Quarter WHAT CAN THERAPY 13 DO FOR YOU? Therapy can help in a number of ways - including protecting those arthritic joints. Learn more about how therapy might be able to help you in a way you had not known of! GOOD FOOD CHOICES 14 There are multiple ways your diet can help reduce arthritis syptoms! Learn more about the types of foods you should eat and should avoid. 15 10 WAYS TO SHOW LOVE TO THE PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT Theres never a bad time to learn about ways to show your love to those you care about. Learn about our top 10 favorites here! 19 CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Flip ahead to this article to learn fun facts about St. Patrick's! A WORD FROM THE 22 CEO The CEO of a major rehab therapy company speak up about women's history! 2 CEO & PUBLISHER Dr. Janet Mahoney, DPT, CEO [email protected] EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Victoria Kilroy, MSPT [email protected] DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Jackson Falby [email protected] CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Virginia Brackett, PT [email protected] DIRECTOR OF BIZ-DEV Nancy Vanbenschoten [email protected] Editorial submissions are welcome. Please send queries to Victoria Kilroy, MSPT, Editor-In-Chief. Submissions may be edited for length, style, content and clarity. Contents copyright 2021 by Arete Rehabilitation, Inc. Send permissions requests to access copyright by emailing [email protected] Disclaimer: The Publisher and Authors recognize that older adults have co-existing conditions that may affect appropriate application of the recommendations in Fall Prevention Magazine. Always consult with your physician before implementing any recommendations. The Publisher and Authors are not responsible for any injury or adverse effects from the application of the material in this magazine. FALL PREVENTION 2021 hasEditor's arrived and all thoughNote it hasn’t brought the recovery we had all hoped for, we all need to recognize the baby steps being made toward winning the battle against COVID. The vaccination process is moving forward, even if it seems to be stumbling at times, with more than 63 million doses administered in the US according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and I have hope that its continued administration will allow us, in the not too distant future, to experience a new freedom. In this edition of Fall Prevention, we focus on arthritis. Articles address what it is, define the most common types and their symptoms and recognize the risk of falls associated with this condition. We offer tips on protecting compromised, arthritic joints while also making recommendations for anti-inflammatory foods to potentially help with the symptoms experienced by arthritis sufferers. March is women’s history month and our CEO recognizes the women that initiated the start of the profession of Physical Therapy here in the United States. And finally, what would February be without some tips on how to creatively maintain the all important feeling of human connection when we continue to be limited in our contact with the ones we love. I hope that 2021 brings you all feelings of hope, joy and a recognition that spring and its rejuvenating powers is not that far away. I also hope that this edition of Fall Prevention magazine provides education, interest and entertainment. VICTORIA KILROY, MSPT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 4 UNDERSTANDING THE MOST COMMON T Y P E S O F ARTHRITIS BY EUGENIE LAMPRECHT, HEALTH WRITER & PHYSIOTHERAPIST Did you know that 23% of adults in America have arthritis? It has also become the leading cause of work disability in the US, with an annual medical care cost of over $303.5 billion. As you can guess, suffering from arthritis is an enormous challenge. It can significantly lower your quality of life and can become all-consuming when not managed well. On top of that, it can be overwhelming to understand the many different types of arthritis and the confusing medical terms that go along with them. Luckily, today’s article will share what arthritis is, the different types, and how to recognize how they differ. What is Arthritis? Arthritis is a widespread condition yet not well understood. As a surprise to many, it’s also not a single disease but rather an umbrella term for various conditions referring to joint pain or disease. You’ll probably recognize the most common symptoms; pain, swelling, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. These symptoms vary in severity, and flare-ups are extremely common. To further understand this condition, it’s essential to recognize experts report more than 100 different types of arthritis. In this article, we’ll share information about the most common diagnoses; osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and psoriatic arthritis. The different types of arthritis 1. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects more than 32.5 million Americans. Though it can affect any joint in the body, it’s more common in the hips, knees, hands, and spine. OA’s leading risk factors include; age, previous injury, obesity, genetics, and gender. Fall Prevention Magazine First Quarter www.areterehab.com Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects more than 32.5 million Americans. As a degenerative joint disease, the joint cartilage gets broken down progressively over time. The breakdown of cartilage occurs due to an inflammatory response, which then triggers the breakdown of more collagen and connective cells in the cartilage. This becomes problematic, as cartilage provides frictionless movement through joint surfaces. When these structures are damaged, it impacts the glide and smooth movement over joints. In the rare case that the cartilage breaks down completely, the bone(s) will start rubbing on each other during movement. Common signs & symptoms of OA include: Joint pain Swelling Stiffness Decreased range of motion 2. Gout Another common form of arthritis is Gout, known for its sudden and severe onset of pain, redness, warmth, and swelling in the joint. Many experience these sudden attacks in the middle of the night and describe it as a sensation that the big toe is on fire. Luckily, the triggering factors of gout are well understood and can therefore be managed relatively easily. Gout is caused by excess levels of uric acid in the blood produced when your body breaks down purine, commonly found in red meat, alcohol, and highly-processed foods with added sugars. Generally, our bodies would excrete excess uric acid through the kidneys into our urine, but if your body ends up producing too much uric acid, it forms sharp, needle-like urate crystals in the joints. As a result, this leads to severe pain, inflammation, and swelling. Common signs & symptoms of gout The symptoms experienced are quite similar to osteoarthritis including pain, swelling, stiffness and decreased range of motion. However, many people with gout also report burning pain. Distinguishing gout from osteoarthritis is relatively straightforward, as your diet most commonly triggers gout. 6 3. Rheumatoid Arthritis 5. Psoriatic Arthritis Unlike osteoarthritis, this form of arthritis is a chronic Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) affects around 2.25 million inflammatory condition that affects not only your joints but Americans and is an autoimmune disease in which the also other body systems, including your skin, heart, blood body overreacts and attacks healthy tissue in the body. The vessels, lungs, and eyes. National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) reports that up to 30% of individuals with psoriasis develop PsA, and common Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which triggers include; injuries, stress, alcohol, certain your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s medications, cold weather, and smoking. connective tissues. As a result, this often leads to bone erosion and joint deformity. Common signs & symptoms of PsA include: Low back pain Common signs & symptoms of RA include: Joint pain and stiffness (most commonly fingers and Tender, warm and swollen joints (most commonly observed toes). in both hands or feet). Swollen fingers and toes. Joint stiffness (worse in the mornings and when inactive). Reduced range of motion. Fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite. Bottom line 4. Lupus If you have arthritis, it is essential to work with your doctor Like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus is another autoimmune to determine the best medical management for your disorder in which the immune system diagnosis. Without treatment, arthritis can lead to extreme attacks your connective tissues and organs. The inflammation pain, joint damage, exhaustion, and disability. Therefore, it’s induced by lupus impacts various essential to start treatment as soon as possible to body systems such as your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, effectively manage pain, relieve inflammation, maintain brain, heart, and lungs. range of motion, delay worsening of symptoms, and Common signs & symptoms of lupus include; address contributing factors such as weight gain and your Fatigue and fever. diet. Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. Butterfly-shaped rash. In addition to working with your MD, physical and Shortness of breath and chest pain. occupational therapy may be appropriate, focusing on Dry eyes. helping you maintain your ability to perform daily tasks, Headaches, confusion, and memory loss. improve mobility, increase strength to support the joints, and manage pain.