Creaking joints, pain, and impaired range of motion are the common signs of aging.
Most of the time, these common symptoms are characteristic of osteoarthritis; a condition that arises due to degeneration of the cartilage usually in the hip and knee joint.
One important observation is that osteoarthritis is not wholly due to aging. It is comprised of several factors including previous joint injury as well as genetics. Loss of cartilage leads to development osteoarthritis. It’s a painful condition and impairs quality of life.
It is very important to find the right treatment in order to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. Chiropractic care has been found to offer substantial relief for the pain of hip and knee osteoarthritis.
Symptoms, causes, treatment options and most importantly prevention.
The specific causes are still largely unknown but are thought to stem from:
- Aging, where loss of joint cartilage occurs due to repeated wear and tear effect over time.
- Injury to a joint and joint overuse as in athletes who exercise excessively.
- A family history of osteoarthritis
- Carrying extra weight
- Chemical and metabolic factors such as hormonal imbalances
Osteoarthritis manifests signs and symptoms which include deep, aching joint pain aggravated by movement, swelling and warmth around the joint, decreased range of motion with morning stiffness, and muscle weakness.
Other treatments apart from chiropractic care include medications, nutrition and dietary supplements, surgery, and physical therapy among other non-conventional treatment methods.
Prevention still remains better than any cure, and in order to keep osteoarthritis at bay certain preventive measures should be incorporated into your life. These measures include losing weight or maintaining the appropriate weight, exercising regularly, and treating and taking care of an injured joint to prevent further damage on it.
How Chiropractic Treats Osteoarthritis
Chiropractic care has been studied and approved to be of great significance in helping to treat osteoarthritis. One such study was published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine in March 2011. The study aimed at finding the response to chiropractic care in a 70-year-old woman who had hip osteoarthritis. After a 12-week course of chiropractic care, the patient experienced increased range of motion at the hip joint, better balance and an improvement in speed of walking as well as better functionality.
Chiropractic care works optimally when given in combination with glucosamine supplements and exercise. The Chiropractic approach to addressing osteoarthritis involves such procedures as hip, knee and spinal manipulation, massage, passive stretching, and other forms of joint mobilization. Your chiropractor will work with you to help achieve the following:
- Alleviate pain and inflammation (swelling and redness) around the joint
- Improve joint range of motion
- Enhance mobility
- Calm and relax the muscles around the hip and knee joint
- Align the spine and restore its normal movement
Your chiropractor can be of greater help than you might think. This happens as they offer you educated suggestions related to exercise, lifestyle modification, and other forms of therapy that may enhance your ongoing treatment plan.
Do you or anyone you know suffer from osteoarthritis? We can help to increase your mobility and reduce the pain in your joints. Call the office of Kaster Chiropractic at 239-332-2555. www.kasterchiropractic.com