Millions of adults experience chronic pain and limited mobility due to arthritis. While various traditional treatments, including medication and surgery, are available chiropractic care offers a natural, non-invasive approach that can delay the use of other treatments including surgery. If arthritis negatively affects your daily life, chiropractic care may be a practical treatment option.
Understanding Arthritis and Its Impact on the Body
Arthritis is a general term for joint inflammation. Several types of arthritis exist, however, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage cushioning the joints breaks down over time, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. Both conditions lead to pain, inflammation, and stiffness. When joint mobility and your ability to function are reduced, everyday tasks can become very challenging.
How Chiropractic Care Helps Manage Arthritis Pain
Chiropractic care focuses on the musculoskeletal system, which includes the spine, joints, and muscles. Misalignments in the body can place stress on surrounding tissues, worsening arthritis symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments help restore movement to stiff or dysfunctional joints, which can lead to reduced pain and stiffness, improved mobility, and support for the body's natural healing processes.
Depending on which joints are affected, other chiropractic treatments are known to help relieve pain. These may include techniques such as cold laser therapy, traction, exercise recommendations, and nutritional advice.
Chiropractic Treatments for Arthritis Pain Relief
Hands-on adjustments can be very helpful for arthritis, but your chiropractor may recommend adding other modalities to your treatment plan, such as:
- Cold Laser Therapy: Multi-wave Locked System (MLS) cold laser therapy uses low-intensity light to reduce inflammation and promote healing throughout the body. It targets specific areas, such as muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and nerves, making it an effective treatment for various painful conditions, including arthritis.
- Knee Traction: The Knee on Trac traction system gently stretches the knee, which helps increase the space in the knee joint, improving flexibility and mobility. Several sessions are needed to gradually reduce the pressure on the joint, reducing knee pain.
- Lumbar Traction: The Back on Trac technology allows for a gentle pulling or stretching of the spine, which helps alleviate pain and relieve pressure if you’re experiencing arthritis in your spine. This treatment option can be effective for several lower back conditions, including spinal arthritis.
Most patients experience an improved range of motion and noticeable pain relief with each treatment. The amount and frequency of sessions needed will depend on your specific condition.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Arthritis Patients
Chiropractic care offers numerous benefits for various conditions, including arthritis. These include:
- Reduced pain and inflammation. With regular chiropractic care, patients can often manage their pain without relying on traditional medications including over-the-counter and prescription pain medicines.
- Delayed joint replacement surgery. Joint replacement may be needed in spite of your best efforts to reduce joint pain from arthritis. However, artificial joints typically last for about 20 years. If you have a joint replacement surgery in your fifties or younger, you may need a second joint replacement surgery in your lifetime. Many patients can delay joint replacement surgery while still being able to function in their daily activities by using chiropractic care.
- Improved range of motion and flexibility. Through targeted spinal adjustments and soft tissue therapies, chiropractors help restore the range of motion that may be limited by arthritis.
- Better posture and alignment. Poor posture may contribute to arthritis by causing long-term joint degeneration. By realigning the spine and improving posture, patients can experience less joint stress in other areas of the body including the hips and knees.
- Enhanced overall well-being and quality of life. Personalized lifestyle and dietary advice can assist with arthritis management and general health.
Is Chiropractic Care for Arthritis Safe?
According to the Arthritis Foundation, chiropractic is one of the safest therapies for managing arthritis. Even treating the surrounding tissue alone can promote pain relief! However, chiropractic might not be suitable for certain patients, depending on the type of arthritis they have.
It is important to speak with your Village Chiropractic chiropractor about your medical history to ensure that chiropractic care is right for you. If chiropractic is a viable option, you will receive a tailored treatment plan that addresses your specific condition and pain level. This customized approach allows our team to provide targeted care that maximizes the potential benefits and outcomes. Even if manual manipulation isn’t appropriate for your condition, your chiropractor can offer other complementary therapies that may help.
When to Consider Chiropractic Care for Arthritis
You might wonder if chiropractic care will help your arthritis. While this is a personal decision, it is worth considering, especially if you wish to avoid medications and surgery for as long as possible.
If arthritis symptoms are limiting your ability to enjoy life, consider consulting a chiropractor for an evaluation. Our team will assess your situation to determine the best next steps.
Village Chiropractic for Your Arthritis Care
Don't let arthritis pain slow you down. While there is no cure for arthritis, it can be managed effectively with chiropractic care. If you're currently experiencing pain, request an appointment with our team located in Sterling Ridge in The Woodlands.
