According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are over 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions. Arthritis affects more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children in America. Although there are different types of arthritis, they share many of the same painful symptoms, making it the leading cause of disability in the United States.
Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative arthritis, affects 27 million people in the US. With this type, the cartilage in your joints break down and eventually cause bones to rub together. The joints become inflamed, which can progress to pain, bone injury and even spur formation.
Many people tend to think chiropractic care can only benefit those who have been injured due to car accidents or other injuries. However, many people seek chiropractic treatment for a variety of medical conditions and disorders not related to a specific physical injury. In fact, an estimated 20 million Americans will seek treatment from a chiropractor this year. More specifically, chiropractic treatment has been proven to help patients with osteoarthritis. Best of all, it involves no medications and treatment is not addictive.
Three ways that chiropractic treatment has been shown to help treat people with the symptoms of osteoarthritis are as follows:
1) Pain reduction and relief. Chiropractors use various techniques to properly align the spine. By receiving a spinal adjustment, the spinal cord nerves can send a signal to the brain to properly balance chemical production, which will decrease how the body relays pain.
2) Release muscle tension. When the spine is misaligned, muscles tend to hold tightness around the area causing inflammation. Chiropractic treatment helps to relieve the tension built up in the muscles by properly aligning the spine and reducing the pressure.
3) Increase range of motion. Proper spinal alignment increases the motion of the spine, shoulders and hips. This increase in range of motion helps the adjoining joints become more flexible and helps reduce stiffness throughout the body.
Like other forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis can be debilitating, painful and uncomfortable. Chiropractic treatment can help reduce those feelings for patients.
If arthritis is stopping you from enjoying your life to the fullest and doing the things you want to do, please contact our office to find out what options may be available. Relief may be just a phone call away!
Dr. Tom DeWall, Chiropractor