Arthritis treatment involves strategies to relieve symptoms and improve joint mobility and flexibility. There is a variety of treatments available, and it depends on your specific condition, which ones will work for you.

Most common arthritis therapies involve medications, physical therapy, and surgery. There are also various home remedies, alternative treatments, and lifestyle changes that you can try out.

• Medications

Your doctor may prescribe different medications depending on the type of arthritis you have. Most widely used arthritis medications include painkillers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), corticosteroids, counterirritants, and biologic response modifiers.

• Physical Therapy

Exercises can help some forms of arthritis, strengthening the muscles around the joints, and improving joint mobility and flexibility.

• Surgery

If you suffer from a severe form of arthritis, your doctor may suggest surgery. These procedures may involve joint repair, replacement, or fusion.

• Alternative Treatments and Lifestyle Changes

Alternative medicine can improve arthritis symptoms in some people. Although alternative remedies’ effectiveness is scarcely backed-up by scientific evidence, most people decide to try alternative treatments such as acupuncture, massage, yoga, tai chi, and glucosamine.

Also, many people can alleviate arthritis symptoms with lifestyle changes, such as the following:

Exercise and yoga. Stretching yoga movements and exercises, swimming, water aerobics, strength, and motion workouts can help keep joints flexible.

Healthy diet. Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for arthritis. Losing weight can reduce pressure on your joints, improve mobility, and prevent future deterioration.

Massage. Light massage can increase blood flow, warming the joints, and temporarily relieving pain.