Archive for arthritis
Arthritis and Chiropractic Care
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Introduction
Arthritis is more often than not confusing to most suffers.When some people hear this word they contemplate a future with crippled and twisted joints. However “arthritis” is a very general word that comprises many different conditions from the benign to the severe. For our purposes we will confine this discussion to the most common forms of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care
Osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD) are the names for the most common form of arthritis, which is also called, spondylosis, if it occurs in the spine. This form of arthritis is not limited to humans, but occurs in all mammals, and is due to the degradation of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces. Degenerative changes in the joint takes place when joint cartilage is harmed and causes stress to the sensitive bone tissue that is normally preserved by the cartilage. Sometimes, osteophytes, or bone spurs, can occur when the bone around the joint proliferates. Bone spurs produce painful inflammation to other tissues surrounding the joint aggravating the already grievous condition.
As a rule areas of the body that develop degenerative joints are in the spine, particularly in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, the hips and the fingers. Previous trauma, certain occupations and activities, weight, diet, and heredity all appear to impact both the onset and severity of DJD.
Pain and/or stiffness in the affected joints are primary indicators of DJD. If the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips or knees are involved, ones mobility can be affected especially in the more advanced stages of the condition. In some cases, if the joint is sufficiently worn and the person can no longer walk without severe pain, the joints are surgically replaced with synthetic devices. Of course, one should make an effort to manage the condition early on in ones life to avoid the need for surgery.
The best management of DJD is, of course, prevention that involves taking care of ones joints at an early age.
- Making sure that all injuries to joints are correctly treated will help to avoid future problems.
- People involved in occupations that necessitate standing or walking should wear appropriate shoes that give good support and shock absorption.
- Excess body weight can create increased stress upon the weight bearing joints of the body.
- Avoid kneeling on hard surfaces, such as when doing housework, as this can put strain and produce knee pain.
- Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables as they have natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are essential for the health of the joints, as well as the rest of the body.
Recent studies have shown that long-term use of the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can not only assist with DJD symptoms, but can possibly help to rebuild joint cartilage.
Chiropractic adjustments aid in the restoration of proper mobility and function to the spinal joints. Chiropractic care is not only a smart idea, but extremely effective in relieving the debilitating pain of arthritis. Your Chicago chiropractor is highly skilled when it comes to arthritic pain relief. Other forms of chiropractic care may include joint mobilization, massage, ultrasound, cold laser, or electro-therapy, all of which may be helpful in the relief of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally a brace is used to help stabilize the joint in an effort to alleviate pain. Movement is vital to the maintenance of arthritic joints. A chiropractor often suggests gentle, mobilizing activities such as stretching, yoga, and tai chi can be beneficial.
Gout
An increased level of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints cause gouty arthritis. Generally, gouty arthritis is characterized by acute pain and swelling of the joints in the big toes, knees, ankles and wrists. Many people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are more often than not brought on by binge eating of the wrong foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Foods that need to be avoided have a natural substance called Purines that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Individuals with this condition cannot properly metabolize uric acid, thus the accumulation in the bloodstream and the ensuing joint problems. The foods most associated with high purine content are: red meat especially organ meat, certain seafood, legumes, mushrooms and other foods as well. There are other dietary restrictions that must be followed including avoiding alcohol.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of systemic origin. The primary cause is not known, but it is thought to be due to a problem with the immune system. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, although other areas of the body can be affected as well. The condition is most often associated with morning stiffness that is aggravated by motion. Further symptoms can include general malaise and fatigue, and in its more advanced stages other systems of the body may be affected. There are definitive blood tests to help identify Rheumatoid arthritis that can be easily run. Management includes medication and vitamin and diet therapy, as well as chiropractic treatments. In addition, joint mobilization and modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy and massage can help with the pain and stiffness associated the condition. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to supporting sufferers in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.
Getting Rid of Excess Pounds Can Help Your Arthritis Pain
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San Diego Chiropractor: Chiropractic and Arthritis
Do you suffer from painful arthritis? Do you also have a problem with your weight? If you do, you are probably having back pain not only as the result of arthritis, but also as the eventuality of the strain your weight is putting on your spine. The body was not constructed to carry around extraneous weight in the form of body fat. If you are carrying around only an additional 20 or 30 pounds of extra weight, your spine, which supports the body, is being put under a great deal of strain. This kind of stress can cause irregularities of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can generate arthritic changes in the spine and persist in aggravating the degenerative changes that are present already. Furthermore, your body may counteract in other ways, for instance your hips moving forward or tilting to support the extra poundage. This can pinch the sciatic nerve, which is extremely painful.
A current survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research company based in Rosemont, Ill., indicates that approximately 62% of adults and 34% of adolescents are overweight or obese. The ubiquitousness of arthritis escalates with accumulating weight. Research suggests that cultivating a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may decelerate degenerative progression. A weight decrease of just 11 pounds can decrease the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would do a great deal to reduce back pain as well.
A good diet and appropriate exercise is mandatory for an individual who is sincere about overcoming their back pain, knee pain, and joint pain in other regions of the body. Even though it’s an unmistakable solution, it genuinely is the only action for you to take in order to get out of pain and get your life back.
First of all, let’s discuss the topic of dieting. Most diets (and there are a large number to choose from) can be temporarily helpful. Obviously, if you were to lose weight for keeps, the diet industry would lose a regular customer! In order for you to lose weight efficiently, you must eat a healthy diet and also to cut your calories so that you use more calories than you take in. Losing a lot of pounds too fast is not only unhealthy, but perilous. A healthy weight loss rate is about 2 pounds every week in order for it to work well.
Research has proved that exercise and physical activity not only decreases pain and improves function, but actually delays disability. No less than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, a minimum of 3 days a week, has been shown to be effective. Even at 10-minute intervals such movement is beneficial.
Chiropractic adjustments are a highly beneficial way to get mobility back in the joints of your spine and other areas of, and can be a good first step before starting an exercise program. A well-aligned spine makes exercise and physical activity a lot easier and will slow down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine reported the results of a survey of 232 people who had arthritis and were under a rheumatologist’s care. Of those people, 63% responded to the survey by saying they were taking advantage of some kind of “complementary care” as named by the study. Of those individuals, 31% were trying chiropractic. Possibly the most impressive statistic was that 73% of those utilizing chiropractic found it effective. Answering why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, those surveyed offered a number of reasons: 1) to curb pain, 2) they’d been told that it helps, 3) they felt certain that it is safe, 4) it had aided someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t stopping the pain.
Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been helping individuals suffering from back pain due to arthritis and other arthritic conditions for over a hundred years. Your San Diego chiropractor treats misaligned vertebra that, in addition to creating arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine, can decrease resistance and immunity, thus causing new health challenges.
It is always smart to consult a health care professional to get information about diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is a knowledgeable resource for education about the type of lifestyle changes that you will find necessary to help you to manage your arthritis. By the same token, in addition to getting your spine in alignment through gentle adjustments, your chiropractor will analyze any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be contributing to your arthritic pain.