Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain Treatment in Bakersfield

Yes, physical therapy helps osteoarthritis. Exercise is one of the most strongly recommended treatments for it. The American College of Rheumatology recommends exercise for arthritis of the hand, knee and hip, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends it for knee and hip arthritis. Exercise can't regrow cartilage, but stronger muscles and better movement often matter more for how your joints feel. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist.

Does this sound like you?

What osteoarthritis is

Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis. It involves gradual changes in the cartilage, bone and other tissues of a joint, and it becomes more common with age, past joint injuries and extra body weight. It most often affects:

• Hands: the end and middle finger joints and the base of the thumb. See our hand and wrist therapy guide.
• Knees: pain on stairs, when kneeling and when getting up. See our knee arthritis guide.
• Hips: pain in the groin or front of the hip, and stiffness putting on socks and shoes. See our hip pain and hip arthritis guide.
• Spine: stiffness and aching in the neck or low back. In the low back it can sometimes narrow the space around the nerves, called spinal stenosis.

Arthritis changes on an X-ray are very common as we age, and the X-ray often doesn't match how much it hurts. Many people with big changes on X-ray have little pain, and the reverse is true too.

Why movement is good for arthritic joints

Joints do best with regular movement. Strong muscles take pressure off the joint, and staying active helps with stiffness, sleep and mood. For most people, the right exercise doesn't wear joints out faster, and staying inactive tends to make stiffness and weakness worse. The goal is the right amount of the right activity, not avoiding activity. If you are carrying extra weight, losing some can also ease the load on your knees and hips. Read more in does physical therapy help arthritis?

Osteoarthritis or another kind of arthritis?

Osteoarthritis usually affects a few joints, and morning stiffness tends to ease within about half an hour. Rheumatoid arthritis, gout and other inflammatory types of arthritis behave differently and need a doctor's diagnosis and medical treatment. See a doctor if your joints are hot, red or swollen, if several joints swell at once, or if morning stiffness lasts more than an hour. Exercise still helps many people with inflammatory arthritis, alongside the care their doctor provides.

What treatment at ARI looks like

When to see a doctor first

See a doctor promptly if you have:

• A joint that is suddenly hot, red and swollen, especially with a fever, which needs same-day care
• Swelling in several joints, or morning stiffness that lasts more than an hour
• A joint that locks, gives way or can't take your weight after an injury or fall
• Joint pain with a rash, fever, unexplained weight loss or feeling generally unwell
• Calf pain, swelling or warmth in your lower leg, which needs urgent attention to rule out a blood clot

Why patients choose ARI

Care at ARI is always one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. Our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

Osteoarthritis FAQs

Common questions

• Is My Joint Pain Arthritis or Tendonitis?
• When Should I Worry About Joint Pain?
• Do Pain Relief Creams and Gels Actually Work?

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.

Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed October 2026