Don’t Let Arthritis Pain Stop You
Learn About the Benefits of Chiropractic
Are you tired? Tired of the ache in your knees or hips every time you stand up? Tired of the twinge in your back or the cramps in your hands as you try to get through the day? Are you frustrated that you can’t live the life you want because your aching joints are constantly in pain? You can find arthritis pain relief with chiropractic.
Are you already feeling the ache of arthritis? It might seem like arthritis is controlling you, but you can be in control of your symptoms. You have the power to stop arthritis in its tracks by partnering with your chiropractor to learn why we say ‘movement is medicine!’
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition that causes swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis (‘OA’), a degenerative joint disease (DJD) that is more likely to develop as people age.
The bones in your body are covered with cartilage- a strong, flexible connective tissue that protects your joints and bones. When cartilage breaks down, your bones rub against each other—this is what causes irritation and inflammation. The result? Pain in your joints, muscles, and ligaments that surround these bones.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting over 32 million people in the US, with nearly 70% of people over 65 having x-ray evidence of an OA diagnosis. It is essential to note that OA does not happen because of simple wear and tear on the joints. So, if you think being inactive can prevent OA, it’s quite the contrary. Instead, changes in the joint (where two or more bones come together) can trigger the breakdown of cartilage, which usually happens gradually over time. Other causes of OA include:
- Joint injury or previous surgery: OA can begin due to damage caused by an injury to a joint or following surgery that impacted a joint of the body.
- Age: The risk of developing OA increases as you age.
- Genetics: Those with family members with OA are more likely to develop this condition.
- Body weight: Being overweight or obese increases the stress on joints, thus increasing the likelihood of OA.
- Pre-existing Conditions: Gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and hyper-mobility disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos increase OA incidence.
What Are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
OA most commonly affects the spine, knees, hips, and hands. Some common symptoms include:
- Pain during or after movement of the impacted joint
- Stiffness and loss of joint motion, usually in the morning or after a period of rest
- Swelling and immobility of the joint or surrounding area
- Feeling that the joint is weak, loose, or unstable
- Tenderness to touch with light pressure to or near the joint
- A grinding sensation in a joint with movement, including popping or crackling sounds
Want Long-Term Relief? Partner With a Chiropractor!
Arthritis is a chronic condition with no cure. That might sound scary or as though any hope of pain relief is lost. Instead, it is essential to recognize that since arthritis is persistent, you need to be persistent too. You must continually perform healing activities to keep arthritis symptoms at bay. But you don’t have to go through it alone- we can help.
How Chiropractic Can Help with Arthritis
Chiropractic adjustments benefit people suffering from various health conditions, including chronic and progressive ones like arthritis. Let’s look at some ways chiropractic can help elevate your health and awareness now to reap the rewards throughout your life.
Spinal Adjustments
Through spinal adjustments or manipulations, chiropractic can improve your alignment to increase joint mobility. Better alignment means fewer stressors on joints, optimal alignment for strengthening, and the prevention of cartilage degeneration to promote ongoing relief.
Alignment Techniques
A key to preventing the progression of OA arthritis is to ensure that vertebrae in the spine are aligned and moving correctly. If the structure of a particular joint in the spine isn’t ideal, it can cause arthritis in the spine or other areas of the body. Chiropractors will realign the spine to maximize the function of arthritic joints.
Muscle Strengthening
Arthritis can wear down the protective cartilage around your joint, which can cause painful friction. Chiropractors will help you understand how to strengthen the muscles around your impaired joint, which will decrease friction and ease pain. Because of their holistic training, chiropractors are a great resource for exercise guidance.
Motion & Mobility
Arthritis can come with stiffness, inflammation, and severe pain, which can deter people from wanting to move at all. However, leading a stationary life makes OA more painful. Exercise, when performed correctly, is considered the most effective, non-pharmaceutical treatment for reducing pain and improving mobility in patients with OA. Your chiropractor will assess your current health and ability, then perform alignment techniques to encourage optimal movement, so you can exercise more often to promote further healing.
Inflammation
One of the primary purposes behind chiropractic is to realign the vertebrae of the spine, which reduces pressure on the nerves to promote a healthy nervous system. When the spine and joints are correctly aligned, your body stops the production of neuropeptides- a main culprit of inflammation. So, through proper spinal alignment, chiropractic helps to reduce inflammation that can lead to joint pain.
Plan For the Future And Find Arthritis Pain Relief with Chiropractic
Chiropractic reduces inflammation, increases mobility, and decreases pain among arthritis patients. However, your approach to fighting arthritis isn’t episodic- like a twisted ankle. Chiropractic is a long-term approach to a lifetime of health. Therefore, because arthritis symptoms can quickly come back when lifestyles shift, keeping up with your chiropractic regimen will decrease the likelihood of these symptoms getting in the way of your busy life.
While OA is a chronic condition, you can stay one step ahead of your pain by maintaining a care routine with your chiropractor. As your lifetime partner in health, we’ll ensure you remain aligned in all areas of your body to keep your joints healthy and preserve your precious cartilage.
At MCR Chiropractic, we are committed to empowering you to achieve a lifetime of health and wellness. Call your nearest MCR Chiropractic to schedule an appointment or complete the form below!
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