ARTHRITIS : A Chiropractic Perspective – World Arthritis Day 12th of October
12th October 2014
October the 12th is World Arthritis Day, so we thought we would highlight some facts about what arthritis is, who it effects, why it develops and how Chiropractic may help.
One point I want to make from the outset though is that arthritis is NOT a normal part of the aging process!! It’s not because “im getting old” and not everyone suffers from it! It does not always mean a life time of medication or a guaranteed hip replacement. You have options………
QUICK FACTS
According to the NHS (see here)
WHO : In the UK, around 10 million people have arthritis. It affects people of all ages, including children.
WHAT : Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, affecting around 8 million people.
WHY : It often develops in people who are over 50 years of age. However, it can occur at any age as a result of an injury or another joint-related condition.
HOW : It is NOT just wear and tear, and it is NOT part of the normal aging process!! It is a result of many lifestyle factors such as previous injuries and trauma’s, weight, physical activity level and movement of your joints.
DIAGNOSIS:
Diagnosing arthritis is achieved by taking a thorough medical history and looking at the description of your symptoms. Depending on the type of Arthritis, various imaging methods and blood testing may also be used. Your Chiropractor can assess your spine for signs of degeneration and arthritis on your initial visit.
Arthritis if detected early can be best treated. By restoring mobility and movement to the joints in the affected area’s, whether they are in the spine or other body joints, can help reduce pain and allow you to start active rehabilitation. Proper movement allows for exercise, and along with dietary advice, can help you lose weight. This in turn can greatly help your arthritis.
Although anti-inflammatory medication can help manage pain in the short term, it has been shown in scientific studies to accelerate the articular cartilage breakdown in osteoarthritis, thus worsening the joints condition.
CAN CHIROPRACTIC HELP?
Chiropractic works to encourage better control and movement of your spinal bones/segments. Better control = coordinated movement. Controlled and coordinated movement of your spine leads a reduced likelihood of injury and further damage. It also allows for increased physical activity, which can help with weight management.
As you can see from our previous posts, more movement, and better movement of your spine can help with the management of Osteoarthritis, along with advice on exercise, diet/nutrition and better lifestyle choices. All of this can be provided by your Chiropractor.
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