Arthritis

Arthritis

Are you experiencing pain, stiffness, redness or swelling? You may be suffering from arthritis. Arthritis is an often misunderstood condition. Arthritis is known by many names—but all of them indicate a condition that can be both painful and debilitating.

As Weston chiropractors well schooled in arthritis, we address the practical issue of getting the body to move more freely. Chiropractic as a regular treatment can help prevent the damaging effects of arthritis according to the National Arthritis Foundation. This form of prevention is probably the most crucial benefit in treating the disease.

The lifestyle changes and therapies we will discuss with you will influence diet, exercise, and maintaining the body’s alignment that we believe will offset health problems that might accompany arthritis. Proper weight and a healthy immune system are both important factors in limiting the devastating effects of all forms of arthritis, especially osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more of your joints. Arthritis is not a single disease – it is a term that covers over 100 medical conditions.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis collectively affects nearly 46 million adults and 300,000 children in America alone. While the most common form of arthritis – osteoarthritis (OA) – is most prevalent in people over 60, arthritis in its various forms can start as early as infancy. Together, arthritis and related conditions are a major cause of disability in the United States, costing the U.S. economy more than $124 billion per year in medical care and indirect expenses such as lost wages and production – and costing millions of individuals their health, their physical abilities and, in many cases, their independence.

Let the chiropractic physicians at Windmill Health Center help you to manage your arthritis, keeping you as mobile and pain-free as possible.

Types of Arthritis

There are two main types of arthritis:

  • Osteoarthirtis – Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis. It affects about 33 million Americans and is the most common chronic joint condition. Osteoarthritis results from overuse of joints.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory auto immune disease. The direct cause is not known, but it is thought to be 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. More than 1.3 million Americans are affected. According to the American College of Rheumatology, about 75% of those affected are women. In fact, between 1% and 3% of women are likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis in their lifetime.

Symptoms of Arthritis

Prevention of arthritis can occur, beginning at an early age if at all possible:

  • One should always guarantee that, especially when young, all injuries to joints are correctly managed to insure proper healing to avoid future disability.
  • Shoes with good support and shock absorption should be worn by those whose jobs require extended periods of standing or walking.
  • Weight loss through proper diet will help to reduce stress on weight-bearing body joints.
  • Care should be taken to protect knees from pain and strain when kneeling on hard surfaces.
  • The natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants contained in fruits and vegetables are essential for healthy joints and a healthy body.

Treatment for Arthritis

Treatments for arthritis vary, depending on the type of arthritis. The main goals at our chiropractic clinic are to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

X-rays of many people in their 20’s show that arthritis is not reserved for the elderly. One of the main causes of arthritis is joints that aren’t moving properly because of misalignments of the bones that form them. Your spine is a group of cylinder-shaped bones with knobs on the backs and side of each bone that fit into grooves in the neighboring vertebra, and as top Weston chiropractic physicians, we can evaluate these joints for you.

  • Chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic adjustments are not only safe, but an effective treatment for arthritis, and can assist in restoring proper mobility and function to the spinal joints, thereby giving patients great relief. By performing spinal adjustments, and restoring your vertebrae back to its proper alignment, you allow your brain energy to send healing signals to nerves and tissues.
  • Therapeutic exercises. Exercise is critical in successful arthritis management. We will work with you to include an exercise program that includes range of motion exercises (maintain normal joint movement and increase joint flexibility), strengthening exercises, and aerobic exercises to improve the cardiovascular system and muscle tone and control.
  • Therapeutic massage. Massage can play a big role in alleviating the symptoms of both stress and arthritis. Kneading, rubbing, and stroking the muscles, ligaments and tendons create relaxation that restores balance to the delicate body.
  • Physical therapy. Many arthritis patients benefit from electrical stimulation and ultrasound.

Don’t take arthritis lying down! As Weston chiropractic physicians, we have successfully helped hundreds of patients suffering from headaches, lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel, sciatica and sports injuries. Our state-of-the-art Windmill Health Center combines the latest in chiropractic treatments with a focus on wellness.