If you’re managing a rheumatic condition such as lupus, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, fibromyalgia or gout you may benefit from working with a local athletic therapist. A local athletic therapist is a wellness provider who assesses, diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal injuries. The musculoskeletal system includes the muscles, joints and bones. A local athletic therapist uses a variety of techniques to treat patients, including injury assessment, manual therapies, taping, biomechanical correction,  rehabilitative ultrasound imaging and exercise prescription. Whether it’s using rehab equipment to recover from an orthopedic surgery or a manual adjustment for jaw pain, a local athletic therapist can help you return to your daily activity. If you have a joint or muscle condition such as vasculitis, you will work with a local family physician and/or a local rheumatologist to manage your condition. A local athletic therapist can work with your local rheumatologist to create your health and exercise plan, whether it’s squat exercises or stomach exercises. Your local athletic therapist can work with your healthcare team to create an ideal wellness plan for you, from your local registered dietitian or massage therapist to your local Pilates instructor.