Chiropractic excels in wellness care, so it is becoming more common for people to visit chiropractors to treat a variety of different kinds of pain. Because of this, chiropractic adjustments provide many benefits to people and patients who suffer from a wide variety of conditions like arthritis. In today’s article, we’ll explore how chiropractic can help patients who suffer from arthritis and give you additional suggestions on how to alleviate the pain that’s associated with it.
What is arthritis?
Put simply, arthritis is inflammation in the joints which result in joint pain, stiffness and limited range of movement. There are over 200 different varieties of the ailment. While it is generally associated with age, it can also affect young people. It can strike almost any area of the body, with each region having a different cause and name. In some cases, arthritis can cause damage to soft tissues and muscles, like the heart and lungs.
Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis. It results from repeated trauma to the joint and becomes more common in the elderly.
Other common forms of arthritis include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis, the second most common form in which the body’s immune system attacks the joint.
- Psoriatic arthritis, another autoimmune form of arthritis.
- Ankylosing spondylitis, also a type of arthritis where the body attacks itself.
- Septic arthritis, which is caused by a viral or bacterial infection of the joint.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing arthritis involves a complete and thorough examination. If a chiropractor feels the need to co-manage the case, a medical work-up by a rheumatologist may be recommended. This can include radiology (x-ray) or an MRI, urine and blood analysis and physical examinations.
It is important to have your condition properly diagnosed so you can more effectively treat the symptoms of the disease.
Chiropractors and arthritis
The most common treatment for arthritis is medication, which can take down the inflammation and swelling and reduce pain. However, chiropractors can be of great help in managing arthritis . While it does work short-term, medication has long-term health risks such as impairing healing, causes damage to the stomach lining and internal bleeding.
By visiting a chiropractor you may be able to reduce your reliance upon these medications while managing your pain and symptoms naturally. A chiropractor can:
- Improve your range of motion by keeping your spine in line
- Improve endurance and flexibility
- Increase your strength and muscle tone
- Help you develop a dietary and nutritional plan to reduce inflammation naturally
In addition, chiropractors can recommend an exercise regime that’s conducive to those suffering with arthritis. According to the Chiropractic Association of Australia, this is a vital component in managing your arthritis symptoms.
Treating the symptoms
Please understand that chiropractors cannot cure your arthritis. At this time, there is no cure for arthritis. They can, however, help to alleviate the symptoms and perhaps slow the progression of the illness. They may use spinal adjustments in conjunction with other treatments to address the disease. These options include:
- Hot and cold therapy
- Ultrasound treatments
- Massage
- Electronic muscle stimulation
- Physical rehabilitation
- Magnet therapy
The best results
With an inflammatory disease like arthritis, the best results are achieved from attacking it at all angles. This means working with your chiropractor and rheumatologist to combine treatments if necessary. In addition to their care, a healthy diet and active exercise regime will help move you in the right direction toward a healthier outcome.
If you or a loved one are suffering with arthritis, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 07 3491 6533 today. We’re here to help in any way we can!
