Physiotherapeutic treatment for psoriatic arthritis depends on the severity of the disease and should be directed towards relieving its symptoms and improving the function of each affected joint, being important the use of the remedies indicated by the rheumatologist because without them the disease evolves and physiotherapy becomes inefficient. Thus, the treatment consists of a combination of medications, devices and physical therapy exercises.
The main symptoms in the case of arthritis caused by psoriasis are pain and stiffness in the joint, which may cause swelling and deformity, as well as changes in posture as a way to protect the site of pain, decreased muscle strength and physiotherapy is able to alleviate all these symptoms, improving the person's quality of life.
Some treatment options used in physiotherapy can be exercises to develop muscle strength and range of joints and other techniques such as massage therapy to relieve joint pain. Check out:
1. Use of moist heat
Moist heat can be done with paraffin gloves or warm water compresses, for example. The operating time should be approximately 20 minutes, sufficient to promote sweating, increase blood circulation and relax muscles and joints, being a great option to be used before performing joint mobilization techniques and stretching to increase the amplitude of movements.
2. Exercises
They must be performed especially after heating the joint. A good example for the hands is to try to open the hand, resting on a table, keeping the fingers apart. You can open and close your hand with slow, repetitive movements.
The game of rock, paper and scissors is a fun way to encourage the opening and closing of hands, which can be done several times during the day, making it very easy for people to adhere as a form of home treatment. The game consists of a competition between 2 people, similarly to the even or odd game. However:
- The stone crushes the scissors but the paper wraps the stone; The paper wraps the stone but the scissors cuts the paper; The scissors cuts the paper but it is the stone that crushes the scissors.
To play you need to be facing your opponent hiding your hand. When to speak: Stone, paper or scissors, everyone has to make the movement with the hand that defines their object at the same time.
3. Mobilization
The affected joint tends to be very rigid and so it mobilizes them with small rhythmic and repetitive movements is very useful because it increases the production of synovial fluid that naturally hydrates it. These small exercises must be performed by the physical therapist because they are very specific.
4. Postural exercises
In people with psoriatic arthritis there is a tendency to try to 'hide' by assuming a more 'hunchback' posture and hands closed. Thus, to counter these patterns of poor posture, Clinical Pilates exercises are excellent options because they are performed with the hands slightly closed and with the fingers stretched in a more correct posture, strengthening the muscles of the back and the back of the legs.
