Five Ways to Manage Arthritis Pain — Without Surgery

Five Ways to Manage Arthritis Pain — Without Surgery

Donna is one of the 53.2 million Americans living with arthritis. Until recently, she was also one of the many arthritis patients who weren’t physically active due to their symptoms. The persistent pain in her knee kept her from hobbies she’d always enjoyed, but now she loves to garden and explore local walking trails with her friends. And she didn’t even have to undergo surgery!

What changed? The answer is simple: Donna visited the team at ProTailored Physical Therapy. We helped her understand her condition, including the fact that staying sedentary was making her symptoms worse. We also created a customized treatment plan to help her manage her pain, get active, and get back to the life she wanted to live.

Whether you’re living with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or another inflammatory joint condition, we’ll work hard to find a solution that meets your needs. All you need to do to get started is call to schedule an appointment.

In the meantime, check out these five suggestions for managing arthritis pain from our physical therapists.

How to Manage Arthritis Symptoms (Without Drugs or Surgery)

Stay Active: Getting enough exercise is one of the best things you can do to manage your arthritis symptoms. If you have osteoarthritis, this might be a surprise since OA pains often occur when you move the joint. Fortunately, our physical therapists can help you find low-impact exercises that won’t put extra pressure on your joints.
But Don’t Forget to Rest: While physical activity is crucial in managing arthritis, you need to be careful not to overdo things. Striking a balance between more intense activities (like weightlifting) and periods of active recovery (like walking) will help keep your joints happy.
Eat a Healthy Diet: Swapping out ultra-processed foods for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help control the inflammation that contributes to arthritis symptoms.
Find a Pain Management Strategy: You don’t have to depend on pain medication to manage your symptoms. Self-massage techniques, hot and cold therapy, and gentle stretches can all help reduce pain levels. Our therapists can provide suggestions!
Get Organized: To maximize your treatment from our physical therapists, keep careful track of your symptoms. When do you feel pain? Where do you feel pain? Do you have any mobility restrictions? How would you describe your pain level? This information will help us create the best possible treatment plan for your needs.

But Don’t Forget to Visit ProTailored Physical Therapy, Either!

As musculoskeletal experts, our team of physical therapists can give you the expert guidance you need to address your arthritis symptoms. We offer two main benefits: additional pain management techniques and customized, guided exercise programs.

How We Help Manage Pain

In addition to showing you self-management options, we offer several pain management approaches in our clinic.

Manual therapy techniques, such as joint mobilizations or soft tissue manipulation, help reduce pain, promote blood circulation, and improve mobility restrictions. We often kick off sessions with a round of manual therapy to help prepare your body for exercise.

Depending on your needs, we might also suggest other pain-relieving modalities, such as ultrasound therapy or electrical stimulation.

How We Help You Exercise Smarter

When managing arthritis pain, pretty much any low-impact exercise will do wonders. However, targeted exercise also plays an important role in addressing pain.

For example, mobility exercises will help improve your joint’s range of motion, making movement easier overall. Targeted strength training focuses on improving the strength of the muscles surrounding your impacted joint, which helps support and stabilize it, helping to minimize pain.

We can also help you get started with a general exercise program. If you’ve been inactive for a while, starting slowly is essential to avoiding injury. We can provide suggested exercises and durations based on your health history and activity level.

Finally, if your arthritis is in a weight-bearing joint (such as your hip or knee), it’s important that you improve your balance to minimize your fall risk — and we can help with that, too!

Call Us Today

No matter your specific needs, ProTailored Physical Therapy is here to help you manage your arthritis symptoms. From personalized guidance to targeted exercise programs, we’ll find solutions that work for you.

Call us to schedule your initial consultation.

RELIEVE ARTHRITIS PAIN THE NATURAL WAY

Ready to feel your best again? Come back to ProTailored Physical Therapy and let us help you achieve your wellness goals — book your appointment today!

Click Here to Schedule Your Appointment!

Therapist Spotlight:

Dr. Connor Cottingham PT, DPT, PMC

Favorite way to spend a day off?

Playing golf, being outside, or visiting friends

If you had a theme song, what would it be?

Summer Breeze by Seals and Croft

Favorite local spots?

Nawa, Tolon, The River Greenway

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

Thinks he is funnier than he is, will laugh at his own jokes

Enjoy the creamy, flavorful goodness of this Delicious Healthy Spinach Dip—perfect for parties, snacks, or any occasion. Packed with fresh spinach and wholesome ingredients, it’s a lighter twist on a classic favorite that everyone will love.

Enjoy This Seasonal Healthy Recipe!

Delicious Healthy Spinach Dip

2 x 10 oz packages chopped spinach, frozen

1/2 large onion, finely chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced + 1 small garlic clove, grated
1 medium carrot, finely grated
2 tbsp oil, for frying
2 cups Greek or regular plain yogurt, at least 2% fat
1/4 cup mayo
1 tsp salt
Ground black pepper, to taste

Defrost spinach in a colander overnight or microwave it. Squeeze out excess water and place in a medium bowl. In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, sauté onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, and carrot in a bit of oil for about 7 minutes. Add to the spinach along with yogurt, mayo, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Grate in more garlic to taste. Chill for a few hours if possible. Serve with pretzel chips or brown rice crackers.

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Exercise of the Month

PRONE HIP EXTENSION

Start by lying face down on the floor. Gently tighten your abdominals/core. While keeping your knee straight, squeeze your butt muscle and slowly raise one leg off the ground. Hold for 2 seconds. Slowly lower and repeat with the other leg.

3 Sets, 10 Reps.

Fort Wayne’s Readers’ Choice!

We’re so grateful to our amazing patients for nominating and voting for us in the 2025 Fort Wayne Newspapers Reader’s Choice Awards! Thanks to your support, ProTailored Physical Therapy is proud to have earned 1st place! We’re honored by your trust and will continue to provide the highest quality care to help you feel and move your best.

Our Patients Get Great Results

“I went to ProTailored PT for help to regain flexibility and strength in my shoulders after having pacemaker surgery. I was restricted on arm movement and weight limits for over two months, which resulted in more muscle loss and flexibility than I had realized. Through the treatments and exercises prescribed by Dr. Jones, I was able to significantly improve my shoulder flexibility and rebuild strength in my shoulders and arms. My exercises are designed specifically to help me return to playing golf and to pulling my bow in time for the upcoming archery deer season. Thank you, Dr. Jones, for helping me return to my normal lifestyle with confidence.”

– Tony J.

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Our purpose at ProTailored Physical Therapy is to leave a greater impact on the community around us. In order to achieve our goal we want to change as many lives as possible as we become a beacon of positivity in our community.

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