Chiropractic can drastically improve the function of the joints and the symptoms associated with arthritis, because joint function and the body’s nervous system are intrinsically linked. Traditionally, arthritis is treated with medications to reduce inflammation and swelling in the joints. But chronic inflammation in these areas is often due to causes that are largely preventable or treatable.
There is a wide variety of treatment for arthritis. One category is physical medicine and it includes physical therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists, personal trainers and Doctors of Chiropractic aka chiropractors. Chiropractors are best known for their manipulation of spinal joints, which they refer to as an adjustment, but no two chiropractors adjust exactly the same way.
Through years of research, the biopsychosocial model has come to stand out as the most widely accepted model for conceptualizing and treating chronic pain1. So what is this model? The biopsychosocial model highlights something that many people intuitively understand, that the mind and body are inextricably connected. From a biopsychosocial perspective, there are 3 components that impact not only the experience of pain, but also the ability to manage and successfully treat pain while living a full life.
Acupuncture has been working for arthritis patients long before anyone discovered the new world or put up a Great Wall. In traditional Oriental Medicine, arthritis is considered “stuck” energy, which cannot flow correctly through the pathways of our body. Acupuncture targets these pathways and leverages the subtle electrical gradients in our bodies to change ionic charge and reduce inflammation in our joints. What does this mean for people suffering from arthritis? Everything.
Did you know that there are multiple different forms of arthritis, with a wide variety of symptoms and presentations? The most common of these is Osteoarthritis. “Osteo” means bone; “Arthro” relates to joints; and “-itis” refers to inflammation. By definition Osteoarthritis is the degradation of a joint, breakdown of the cartilage, and the inflammation that accompanies it. Another name for Osteoarthritis is Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD).
Individuals with chronic disease such as arthritis may live normal and productive lives with the help of disease management strategies. The most important strategies for preventing and managing arthritis are proper nutrition, regular exercise, relaxation and stress reduction, medical management, and regular health and medical screenings.