Arthritis affects about one in five Canadians, that represents more than six million people. Many individuals living with this arthritis have indicated that they need assistance to complete daily tasks due to the limits arthritis imposes on their abilities. With symptoms like stiffness and often painful inflammation, arthritis limits your overall mobility and how well you can move your joints. Chiropractic care helps alleviate arthritic symptoms, so you can move through your day with less pain. Although symptoms are more likely to show with age, more than half of Canadians living with arthritis are less than 65 years of age. Also, 20% of Canadians older than 15 years of age suffer from arthritis, making it one of our most prevalent chronic health conditions.
Since there are more than 100 different types of arthritis, the search for a cure is ongoing. If you
don’t treat it, arthritis may permanently damage the joint(s) it affects. Specific types of arthritis
can affect your heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys and even your skin. That’s why treatment, such as
Chiropractic care therapies, which help alleviate arthritic symptoms, play a vital role in managing
this condition.
Treating Arthritis
There are countless over-the-counter products that provide relief from arthritic symptoms but
the results are temporary. More permanent and effective forms of treatment include surgery as
well as therapeutic exercise and manual therapies, such as those a Chiropractor provides. Since surgery can be quite invasive and comes with a lengthy recovery time, many people prefer exercise and manual therapies.
Exercise Therapy
A key way to improve your range of motion and reduce pain, as well as arthritic-related
symptoms, is to use exercise to strengthen the muscles around your affected joint. For individuals living with arthritis, it’s important to ensure you’re doing the right exercises. You can consult a healthcare professional, such as a Chiropractor, to help you develop a plan that will work towards improving your mobility and limiting the risk of aggravating your pain.
Manual Therapy
Manual (i.e. ‘hands-on’) therapy and soft tissue therapy can help to increase your range of motion, reduce inflammation in your joints and help you manage your pain. One of the most common treatments that a Chiropractor utilizes is manual manipulation of your spine. This evidence-based therapy improves your joints’ motion and your ability to move through your day pain-free.
If you’re experiencing common signs of arthritis, such as joint pain, swelling, joint
cracking/popping, decreased range of motion and redness – speak to your medical doctor about
Chiropractic care for arthritis.
Author: Dr. Marco De Ciantis, D.C.