Arthritis & OA
What is Arthritis?
Chiropractors commonly see patients with arthritis. Although there are many different types of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common, affecting 8 million people in the UK. OA is a degenerative cartilage disease. It usually affects the hands, feet, spine, and the large weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees.
Symptoms of arthritis include pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. If you have another form of arthritis, it may not be appropriate to have it treated by a chiropractor. However, at Relief, we may be able to offer some natural treatment for arthritis, or at the very least, point you in the right direction for care.
Causes of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is often described as a wear and tear disease, where each joint has a certain amount of wear before the cartilage becomes arthritic. However, more recent thinking, supported by over 500 studies, shows that joints can also undergo degeneration from a lack of use.
One of the most common issues is an old injury to a joint. Following injury, the joint can become splinted and stop moving properly in order to protect itself. Joints can start to degenerate after only 2 to 4 weeks of this type of fixation. In this way, arthritis could be described as a process of degeneration following joint overuse, misuse, or underuse.
The following things can contribute to the disease:
- Age/Weight
- Genetics
- Loss of strength in muscles supporting joints
- Impairment of peripheral nerves
- Nutrition
- Microtraumas (such as posture or repeated movements)
- Macrotraumas (such as car accidents or falls)
- Underlying health problems: Other problems can manifest as arthritis
If your chiropractor suspects that you have an underlying health problem causing your arthritis, you will be managed with other health professionals in order to deal with this as well. One example might be rheumatoid arthritis, which would manifest with different signs and symptoms to osteoarthritis.
Patients with a joint pain assume that they have some form of OA, especially if they are over the age of 60. Whilst the condition is common in older age, it isn’t ‘normal’ and can often be improved. It is certainly worth seeing your chiropractor or doctor to make sure that the pain you are experiencing is OA. This will allow you to pursue the right treatment for the condition you have.
Can Chiropractic be a natural treatment for Arthritis?
Chiropractic can be very helpful in treating patients with arthritis, although it depends on which type you have. In fact, the majority of the problems we see are highlighted on X ray as being some form of degeneration.
From there, the whole goal of chiropractic care is to rehabilitate motion through the joint. With OA, because it is degenerative, the focus is on improving function and joint motion rather than reversing the process. With better joint function, symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and discomfort are often reduced. The sooner you consult a chiropractor or other healthcare professional for treatment, the better your outcome is likely to be.
Are there exercises which help Arthritis?
Aside from chiropractic natural treatment for arthritis, your chiropractor may suggest a few lifestyle tips and exercises to help keep the erosion of the joint to a minimum. This often means strengthening an area which is weak or stretching tight muscles which may be contributing to compression of the joint. You can also read more about the importance of stretching and how it can support mobility and flexibility.
What is the best natural treatment for osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis can be painful and debilitating, but much can be done to slow the progression of the disease and help keep you from needing surgery until it is absolutely necessary. Painkillers and other drugs may help by reducing pain and slowing the advancement of degeneration. However, natural treatment for arthritis using chiropractic care, nutrition, and exercise can be an effective way of managing the disease. Click on these links to learn more about chiropractic and hip or knee OA.
Book a visit with our Cambridge Chiropractor
If you live in or near Cambridge and have pain or other symptoms, or if you want to improve the function of your body, chiropractic is a safe and very effective solution. If you’d like to learn more about whether chiropractic care is right for you, book a consultation or a FREE telephone call with our principal chiropractor, where natural treatments for arthritis will be explained fully. You will be under no obligation to continue with care.